2017年12月大学英语四级第二套真题附答案及听力材料
2017年12月四级真题（第二套）Part I WritingDirections: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on how to best handle the relationship between teachers and students. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Part II Listening ComprehensionSection ADirections: In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.1.A) It tries to entertain its audience.B) It tries to look into the distance.C) It wants to catch people's attention.D) It has got one of its limbs injured.2.A) It was spotted by animal protection officials.B) It was filmed by a local television reporter.C) Its videos were posted on social media.D) Its picture won a photography prize.Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.A) The distance travelled.B) The incidence of road accidents.C) The spending on gas.D) The number of people travelling.4.A) Fewer people are commuting.B) Gas consumption is soaring.C) Job growth is slowing down.D) Rush-hour traffic is worsening.Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.5.A) He told a stranger the sad story about himself.B) He helped a stranger to carry groceries to his car.C) He went up to a stranger and pulled at his sleeves.D) He washed a stranger's car in return for some food.6.A) He ordered a lot of food for his family.B) He gave him a job at his own company.C) He raised a large sum of money for him.D) He offered him a scholarship for college.7.A) He works hard to support his family.B) He is an excellent student at school.C) He is very good at making up stories.D) He has been disabled since boyhood.Section BDirections: In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.8.A) Attended an economics lecture.B) Taken a walk on Charles Street.C) Had a drink at Queen Victoria.D) Had dinner at a new restaurant.9.A) Treat a college friend to dinner.B) Make preparations for a seminar.C) Attend his brother's birthday party.D) Visit some of his high school friends.10.A) Gather statistics for his lecture.B) Throw a surprise birthday party.C) Meet with Jonathan's friends on the weekend.D) Join him in his brother's birthday celebration.11.A) By car.B) By train.C) By taxi.D) By bus.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12.A) Taking a vacation abroad.B) Reviewing for his last exam.C) Saving enough money for a rainy day.D) Finding a better way to earn money.13.A) Preparing for his final exams.B) Negotiating with his boss for a raise.C) Working part time as a waiter.D) Helping the woman with her courses.14.A) Finish her term paper.B) Save enough money.C) Learn a little bit of Spanish.D) Ask her parents' permission.15.A) He has rich sailing experience.B) He speaks Spanish fluently.C) He is also eager to go to Spain.D) He is easy to get along with.Section CDirections: In this section, you will hear three passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear three or four questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.16.A) She went to the same university as her mother.B) She worked as a nurse in the First World War.C) She won the Nobel Prize two times.D) She was also a Nobel Prize winner.A) She fought bravely in a series of military operations.B) She developed X-ray facilities for military hospitals.C) She helped to set up several military hospitals.D) She made donations to save wounded soldiers.18.A) Both died of blood cancer.B) Both fought in World War I.C) Both won military medals.D) Both married their assistants.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.19.A) They were the first settlers in Europe.B) They were the conquerors of Norway.C) They discovered Iceland in the ninth century.D) They settled on a small island north of England.20.A) It was some five hundred miles west of Norway.B) It was covered with green most time of the year.C) It was the Vikings' most important discovery.D) It was a rocky mass of land covered with ice.21.A) The Vikings' ocean explorations.B) The making of European nations.C) The Vikings' everyday life.D) The Europeans' Arctic discoveries.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.A) Work hard for a better life.B) Make mistakes now and then.C) Dream about the future.D) Save against a rainy day.23.A) Teach foreign languages for the rest of his life.B) Change what he has for his past imaginary world.C) Exchange his two-story house for a beach cottage.D) Dwell on the dreams he had dreamed when young.24.A) Criminal law.C) Oriental architecture.B) City planning.D) International business.25.A) Dream and make plans.B) Take things easy in life.C) Be content with what you have.D) Enjoy whatever you are doing.Part III Reading ComprehensionSection ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.Technological changes brought dramatic new options to Americans living in the 1990s. During this decade new forms of entertainment, commerce, research, and communication became commonplace in the U.S. The driving force behind much of this change was a(n) 26 popularly known as the Internet.The Internet was developed during the 1970s by the Department of Defense. In the case of an attack, military advisers suggested the 27 of being able to operate one computer from another terminal. In the early days, the Internet was used mainly by scientists to communicate with other scientists. The Internet 28 under government control until 1984.One early problem faced by Internet users was speed. Phone lines could only transmit information at a 29 rate. The development of fiber-optic (光纤) cables allowed for billions of bits of information to be received every minute. Companies like Intel developed faster microprocessors, so personal computers could process the 30 signals at a more rapid rate.In the early 1990s, the World Wide Web was developed, in large part,for 31 purposes. Corporations created home pages where they could place text and graphics to sell products. Soon airline tickets, hotel 32 , and even cars and homes could be purchased online. Universities 33 research data on the Internet, so students could find 34 information without leaving their dormitories. Companies soon discovered that work could be done at home and 35 online, so a whole new class of telecommuters began to earn a living from home offices unshaven and wearing pajamas (睡衣).A) advantageB) commercialC) conservationD) equippedE) incomingF) innovationG) limitedH) local I) maintained J) occupations K) postedL) remained M) reservations N) submitted O) valuableSection BDirections: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.The Health Benefits of KnittingA) About 15 years ago, I was invited to join a knitting group. I agreed to give it a try.B) My mother had taught me to knit at 15, and I knitted in class throughout college and for a few years thereafter. Then decades passed without my touching a knitting needle. But within two Mondays in the group, I was hooked, not only on knitting but also on crocheting (钩织), and I was on my way to becoming a highly productive crafter.C) I've made countless baby blankets, sweaters, scarves, hats, caps for newborns. I take a knitting project with me everywhere, especially when I have to sit still and listen. As I discovered in college, when my hands are busy, my mind stays focused on the here and now.D) It seems, too, that I'm part of a national renewal of interest in needle and other handicrafts (手工艺). The Craft Yarn Council reports that a third of women ages25–35 now knit or crochet. Even men and schoolchildren are swelling the ranks, among them my friend's three small grandsons. Last April, the council created a “Stitch Away Stress” campaign in honor of National Stress Awareness Month. Dr. Herbert Benson, a pioneer in mind/body medicine and author of The Relaxation Response, says that the repetitive action of needlework can induce a relaxed state like that associated with meditation (沉思) and yoga. Once you get beyond the initial learning curve, knitting and crocheting can lower heart rate and blood pressure.E) But unlike meditation, craft activities result in tangible and often useful products that can enhance self-esteem. I keep photos of my singular accomplishments on my cellphone to boost my spirits when needed.F) Since the 1990s, the council has surveyed hundreds of thousands of knitters and crocheters, who routinely list stress relief and creative fulfillment as the activities' main benefits. Among them is the father of a prematurely born daughter who reported that during the baby's five weeks in the intensive care unit, “learning how to knit infant hats gave me a sense of purpose during a time that I felt very helpless. It's a hobby that I've stuck with, and it continues to help me cope with stress at work, provide a sense of order in hectic (忙乱的) days, and allow my brain time to solve problems.”G) A recent email from the yarn (纺纱) company Red Heart titled “Health Benefits of Crocheting a nd Knitting” prompted me to explore what else might be known about the health value of activities like knitting. My research revealed that the rewards go well beyond replacing stress and anxiety with the satisfaction of creation.H) For example, Karen Hayes, a life coach in Toronto, conducts knitting therapy programs, including Knit to Quit to help smokers give up the habit, and Knit to Heal for people coping with health crises, like a cancer diagnosis or serious illness of a family member. Schools and prisons with craft programs report that they have a calming effect and enhance social skills. And having to follow instructions on complex craft projects can improve children's math skills.I) Some people find that craftwork helps them control their weight. Just as it's challenging to smoke while knitting, when hands are holding needles and hooks, there's less snacking and mindless eating out of boredom.J)I've found that my handiwork with yarn has helped my arthritic (患关节炎的) fingers remain more dexterous (灵巧的) as I age. A woman encouraged to try knitting and crocheting after developing an autoimmune disease that caused a lot of hand pain reported on the Craft Yarn Council site that her hands are now less stiff and painful.K) A 2009 University of British Columbia study of 38 women with an eating disorder who were taught to knit found that learning the craft led to significant improvements. Seventy-four percent of the women said the activity lessened their fears and kept them from thinking about their problem.L) Betsan Corkhill, a wellness coach in Bath, England, and author of the book Knit for Health & Wellness, established a website, Stitchlinks, to explore the value of what she calls therapeutic knitting. Among her respondents, 54 percent of those who were clinically depressed said that knitting made them feel happy or very happy. In a study of 60 self-selected people with persistent pain, Ms. Corkhill and colleagues reported that knitting enabled them to redirect their focus, reducing their awareness of pain. She suggested that the brain can process just so much at once, and that activities like knitting and crocheting make it harder for the brain to register pain signals. Perhaps most exciting is research that suggests that crafts like knitting and crocheting may help to keep off a decline in brain function with age. In a 2011 study, researchers led by Dr. Yonas Geda at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester interviewed a random (随机的) sample of 1,321 people ages 70–89, most of whom were cognitively (在认知方面) normal, about the cognitive activities they engaged in late in life. The study, published in the Journal of Neuropsychiatry & Clinical Neurosciences, found that those who engaged in crafts like knitting and crocheting had a diminished chance of developing mild cognitive disorder and memory loss. M) Although it is possible that only people who are cognitively healthy would pursue such activities, those who read newspapers or magazines or played music did not show similar benefits. The researchers speculate that craft activities promote the development of nerve pathways in the brain that help to maintain cognitive health. N) In support of that suggestion, a 2014 study by Denise C. Park of the University of Texas at Dallas and colleagues demonstrated that learning to knit or do digital photography enhanced memory function in older adults. Those who engaged in activities that were not intellectually challenging, either in a social group or alone, did not show such improvements.O) Given that sustained social contacts have been shown to support health and a long life, those wishing to maximize the health value of crafts might consider joining a group of like-minded folks. I for one try not to miss a single weekly meeting of my knitting group.36. When the author was a college student, she found that knitting helped her concentrate.37. Knitting can help people stay away from tobacco.38. Even men and children are now joining the army of knitters.39. Being a member of a crafts group enhances one's health and prolongs one's life.40. Knitting diverts people's attention from their pain.41. The author learnt to knit as a teenager, but it was not until she was much older that she became keenly interested.42. When people are knitting, they tend to eat fewer snacks.43. Survey findings show that knitting can help people relieve stress.44. According to a study, knitters and crocheters are less likely to suffer mild cognitive damage.45. The products of knitting can increase one's sense of self-respect.Section CDirections: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.Nobody really knows how big Lagos is. What's indisputable is that it's growing very quickly. Between now and 2050, the urban population of Africa could triple. Yet cities in sub-Saharan Africa are not getting richer the way cities in the rest of the world have. Most urban Africans live in slums (贫民窟); migrants are often not much better off than they were in the countryside. Why?The immediate problem is poverty. Most of Africa is urbanising at a lower level of income than other regions of the world did. That means there's little money around for investment that would make cities liveable and more productive. Without upgrades and new capacity, bridges, roads and power systems are unable to cope with expanding populations. With the exception of South Africa, the only light rail metro system in sub-Saharan Africa is in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Traffic jam leads to expense and unpredictability, things that keep investors away.In other parts of the world, increasing agricultural productivity and industrialisation went together. More productive farmers meant there was a surplus that could feed cities; in turn, that created a pool of labour for factories. But African cities are different. They are too often built around consuming natural resources. Government is concentrated in capitals, so is the money. Most urban Africans work for a small minority of the rich, who tend to be involved in either cronyish (有裙带关系的) businesses or politics. Since African agriculture is still broadly unproductive, food is imported, consuming a portion of revenue.So what can be done? Though African countries are poor, not all African cities are. In Lagos, foreign oil workers can pay as much as $65,000 per year in rent for a modest apartment in a safe part of town. If that income were better taxed, it might provide the revenue for better infrastructure. If city leaders were more accountable to their residents, they might favour projects designed to help them more. Yet even as new roads are built, new people arrive. When a city's population grows by 5% a year, it is difficult to keep up.46. What do we learn from the passage about cities in sub-Saharan Africa?A) They have more slums than other cities in the world.B) They are growing fast without becoming richer.C) They are as modernised as many cities elsewhere.D) They attract migrants who want to be better off.47. What does the author imply about urbanisation in other parts of the world?A) It benefited from the contribution of immigrants.B) It started when people's income was relatively high.C) It benefited from the accelerated rise in productivity.D) It started with the improvement of people's livelihood.48. Why is sub-Saharan Africa unappealing to investors?A) It lacks adequate transport facilities.B) The living expenses there are too high.C) It is on the whole too densely populated.D) The local governments are corrupted.49. In what way does the author say African cities are different?A) They have attracted huge numbers of farm labourers.B) They still rely heavily on agricultural productivity.C) They have developed at the expense of nature.D) They depend far more on foreign investment.50. What might be a solution to the problems facing African cities?A) Lowering of apartment rent.B) Better education for residents.C) More rational overall planning.D) A more responsible government.Passage TwoQuestions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.For the past several decades, it seems there's been a general consensus on how to get ahead in America: Get a college education, find a reliable job, and buy your own home. But do Americans still believe in that path, and if they do, is it attainable?The most recent National Journal poll asked respondents about the American dream, what it takes to achieve their goals, and whether or not they felt a significant amount of control over their ability to be successful. Overwhelmingly, the results show that today, the idea of the American dream – and what it takes to achieve it –looks quite different than it did in the late 20th century.By and large, people felt that their actions and hard work – not outside forces –were the deciding factor in how their lives turned out. But respondents had decidedly mixed feelings about what actions make for a better life in the current economy.In the last seven years, Americans have grown more pessimistic about the power of education to lead to success. Even though they see going to college as a fairly achievable goal, a majority – 52 percent – think that young people do not need a four-year college education in order to be successful.Miguel Maeda, 42, who has a master's degree and works in public health, was the first in his family to go to college, which has allowed him to achieve a sense of financial stability his parents and grandparents never did.While some, like Maeda, emphasized the value of the degree rather than the education itself, others still see college as a way to gain new perspectives and life experiences.Sixty-year-old Will Fendley, who had a successful career in the military and never earned a college degree, thinks “personal drive” is far more important than justgoing to college. To Fendley, a sense of drive and purpose, as well as an effective high-school education, and basic life skills, like balancing a checkbook, are the necessary ingredients for a successful life in America.51. It used to be commonly acknowledged that to succeed in America, one had to have ______.A) an advanced academic degreeB) an ambition to get aheadC) a firm belief in their dreamD) a sense of drive and purpose52. What is the finding of the latest National Journal poll concerning the American dream?A) More and more Americans are finding it hard to realize.B) It remains alive among the majority of American people.C) Americans' idea of it has changed over the past few decades.D) An increasing number of young Americans are abandoning it.53. What do Americans now think of the role of college education in achieving success?A) It still remains open to debate.B) It has proved to be beyond doubt.C) It is no longer as important as it used to be.D) It is much better understood now than ever.54. How do some people view college education these days?A) It promotes gender equality.B) It needs to be strengthened.C) It adds to cultural diversity.D) It helps broaden their minds.55. What is one factor essential to success in America, according to Will Fendley?A) A desire to learn and to adapt.B) A strong sense of responsibility.C) A willingness to commit oneself.D) A clear aim and high motivation.Part IV TranslationDirections: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.华山位于华阴市，距西安120公里。
2017年12月大学英语四级参考答案及听力原文
2017年12月丨四级听力*注：2017年12月全国大学英语四级考试共有两套听力。
听力第一套听力原文：A 9-year-old girl in New Mexico has raised more than $500 for her little brother who needs heart surgery in Houston, Texas this July. Addison Witulski's grandmother Kim Allred, said Addison probably overheard a conversation between family members talking about the funds needed to get her little brother to treatment. "I guess she overheard her grandfather and me talking about how we're worried about how we're going to get to Houston, for my grandson's heart surgery," said Allred. She decided to go outside and have a lemonade stand and make some drawings and pictures and sell them.” That's when Addison and her friends Erika and Emily Borden decided to sell lemonade for 50 cents a cup and sell pictures for 25 cents each.Before Allred knew it, New Mexico State Police Officers were among the many stopping by helping them reach a total of$568. The family turned to social media expressing their gratitude saying, "From the bottom of our hearts, we would like to deeply thank each and every person that stopped by!"1: Who did Addison raise the money for?2: How did Addison raise the money?News Report 2:Last week, France announced that the country will pave 621 miles of road with solar panels over the next five years with the goal of providing cheap, renewable energy to five million people. Called the Ward Way, the roads will be built through joint efforts with the French road building company Colas and the National Institute of Solar Energy. The company spent the last five years developing solar panels that are only about a quarter of inch thick and are strong enough to stand up to heavy highway traffic without breaking or making the roads more slippery. The panels are also designed so that they canbe installed directly on top of the existing roadways, making them relatively cheap and easy to install. France is the first country to kick around the idea of paving its roads with solar panels. In November 2015, the Netherlands completed a229-foot long bike path paved with solar panels as a test for future projects. However, this is the first time a panel has been designed to be laid directly on top existing roads and the first project to install the panels on public highways.3: What was France’s purpose o f constructing theWard Way?4: What is special about the solar panels used in the Ward Way?News Report 3Lions have disappeared from much of Africa, but for the past few years scientists have wondered if the big cats were hanging on in remote parts of Sudan and Ethiopia. Continuousfighting in the region has made surveys difficult. But scientists released a report Monday documenting with hard evidence the discovery of "lost lions." A team with Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, supported by a charity organization, spent two nights in November camping in a national park in northwest Ethiopia on the Ethiopia-Sudan border. The researchers set out six camera traps, capturing images of lions, and the identified lion tracks. The scientists concluded that lions are also likely to live in a neighboring national park across the border in Sudan. The International Union for Conservation of Nature had previously considered the area a "possible range" for the species, and local people had reported seeing lions in the area, but no one presented convincing evidence.5: What has made it difficult to survey lions in remote parts of Sudan and Ethiopia?6: What was the main purpose of the research?7: What did the researchers find in the national park?Conversation OneM: I beg you’re looking forward to the end of this month. Aren’t you?W: Yes, I am. How did you know?M: David told me you had a special birthday coming up. W: Oh, yes. That’s right. This year would be my golden birthday.M: What does t hat mean? I’ve never heard of a golden birthday.W: I’ve actually just learned of this concept myself. Fortunately, just in time to celebrate. A golden or lucky birthday is when one turns the age of their birth date. So, for example, my sister’s birthday i s December 9th and her golden birthday would have been the year she turns 9 years old. Come to think of it , my parents did throw her a surprise party that year.M: Interesting. Too bad I missed mine. My golden birthday would’ve been four years ago. I assu medly got a big plan then.W: Actually yes. My husband is planning a surprise holiday for the two of us next week. I have no idea what he’s gotten in mind, but I’m excited to find out. Has he mentioned anything to you?M: He might have.W: Anything you’d like to share? I’m dying to know what kind of trip he has planned where we’re going.M: Yeah, nothing at all.W: Not a clue. Hard to imagine, isn’t it! Though I must say, I think it has been even more fun keeping the secret for me the past few weeks.M: I’m sure both of you will have a fantastic time. Happy golden birthday! I can’t wait to hear all about it when you get back.8. What does the woman looking forward to?9. What did the woman’s parents do on her sister’s lucky birthday?10. What is the woman eager to find out about?11. What does the man say at the end of the conversation? Conversation TwoW: Mr. Green, What do you think makes a successful negotiator?M: Well, It does hard to define, but I think successful negotiators have several things in common. They are always polite and rational people, they are firm, but flexible. They can recognize power and know how to use it. They are sensitive to the dynamics in the negotiation, the way it raises and falls, and how may change the direction. They project the image of confidence, and perhaps most importantly, they know when to stop.W: And what about an unsuccessful negotiator?M: Well, this probably all of us when we start out. We are probably immature and over-trusting, too emotional or aggressive. We are unsure of ourselves and want to be liked by everyone. Good negotiators learn fast, pool negotiators remain like that and go on losing negotiations,W: In your opinion, can the skills of negotiation be taught? M: Well, you can teach someone how to prepare for negotiation. There perhaps six stages in every negotiation, get to know the other side, stay your goals, start the process, clarify there is a disagreement or conflict, reassess your position, making acceptable compromise, and finally reach some agreements and principals. These stages can be studied, and strategies to be used in each can be planned before-hand. But I think the really successful negotiator is probably born with the sixth sense that may respond properly to the situation at hand.W: The artistic sense you just described?M: Yes, that’s right12. What’s the man say about good negotiators?13. What does the man say, maybe the most important thing to a successful negotiator?14. How is a good negotiator different from a poor one?15. What’s the first stage of a negation according to the man?Passage OneSome people wonder why countries spend millions of dollars on space projects. They want to know how space research helps people on earth. Actually, space technology helps people on earth every day. This is called spin-off technology. Spin-off technology is space technology that is now used on earth. In early space programs, such as the Apollo missions of the 1960s and 1970s and in the space shuttle missions today, scientists developed objects for the astronauts to use on the moon and in space. We now use some of these objects every day. For example, we have quartz crystal clocks and watches accurate to within one minute a year. We purify the water we drink with the water filter designed for the astronauts to use inspace. The cordless hand held tools we use in our homes, such as vacuum cleaners, flashlights, drills came from the technology of these early space programs. On cold winter days, we can stay warm with battery-operated gloves and socks, especially made coats and jackets. All the clothes are similar to the space suits designs that kept astronauts comfortable in the temperatures of the moon, in our spin offs from space technology. These products are only a few examples of the many ways space technology helps us in our everyday lives. No one knows how new spin off technology from the international space station will help us in the future.16. What do some people want to know about space exploration?17. What did scientist do for the space shuttle missions?18. What does the speaker say about the quartz crystal clocks and watches?Passage TwoWell, if I could get back in history and live, I'd like to get back to the 18th century and perhaps in colonial America in Yankee new England where one of my ancestors lived, because it was the beginning of something. By the 18th century, there was a feeling of community that had grown. My ancestor was the preacher traveling around countryside. People lived in small communities. It was fisherman and farmers who provided fresh food that tasted and looked like food. Unlike today’s supermarkets, and there were small towns and New York wasn't that far away. I'm deeply attached to the puritan tradition not in a religious sense. But they believed in working for something, working for goals. And I like that. They worked hard at whatever they did, but they had a sense of achievement. They believed in goodness, in community, and helping one another. I love the colonial fabrics or the silver works, the furnishings, the combination of elegance simplicity. I'd love it. The printing, the books, I’m very attached to all that kind of thing. That may not all be very entertaining in the modern sense of the world, but I would have enjoyed spending my evenings in that environment, discussing newideas, building a new world, and I can see myself sitting on a small chair by the fire doing needle work.19. Why does the speaker say she would like to go back and live in the 18th century America?20. What does the speaker say about the Puritans?21. What would the speaker like doing if she could go back to the past?Passage threeIf you are lost in the woods, a little knowledge concerned with some people called a hardship into an enjoyable stay away from the troubles of modern society. When you think you're lost,sit down on the log or rock, or lean against the tree, and recite something you are memorized to bring your mind to the point where is under control. Don’t run blindly if you must move, don't follow stream unless you know it, and in that case you're not lost. Streams normally flow through wide land before theyreach a lake or river though there are more eatable plants, there may also be wild animals, poisonous snakes, and other hazards. Many experts feel it is the wisest to walk up hill. At the top of most hills and mountains are trails living back to civilizations. If there are no trails, you're much easier to be seen on top of the hill. And you may even spot the highway or railroad from this point. Nowadays, the first way some of you search for you is by air. In the wide lands or in dense grass, we're very hard to spot. Anytime you are going to the woods, somebody should know where you're going, and when you are expected to return, also when someone comes to looking, you should be able to signal to them.22. What does the speaker advise you to do first if you are lost in the woods?23. What will happen if you follow an unknown stream in the woods?24. What do many experts think is the wisest thing to do if you're lost in the woods?25. What should you do before you go into the woods?参考答案：1. D) Her little brother.2. B) By selling lemonade and pictures.3. B) Providing clean energy to five million people.4. C) They can be laid right on top of existing highways.5. C) Endless fighing in the region.6. D) To find evidence of the lions'disappearance.7. A) Lions'tracks.8. D) Her "lucky brithday".9. A) Threw her a superise party.10. C) The trip her husband has planned.11.B)He is eager to learn how the couple's holiday turns out.12.D)They are sensitive to the dynamics of a negotiation.13.A)They know when to stop.14.B)They learn quickly.15.C)Get to konw the other side.16.A)How space research benefits people on Earth17.C)They developed objects for astronauts to use in outer space.18.B)They are extremely accurate.19.C)It marked the beginning of something new.20.D)They believed in working for goals.21.B)Doing needlework by the fire.22.A)Sit down and try to calm yourself.23.C)You may expose youself to unexpected dangers.24.A)Walk uphill.25.D)Inform somebody of your plan.听力第二套参考答案：1. D) It has got one of its injured.2. C) Its videos were posted on social media.3. A) The distance travelled.4. B) Gas consumption is soaring.5. B) He helps a stranger to carry groceries to his car.6. C) He raised a large sum of money for him.7. A) He works hard to support his family.8. A) Attend an economics lecture9. C) Attend his brother’s birthday party10. D) Join him in his brother’s birthday celebration11. B) By train12. A) Taking a vacation abroad.13. C) Working part time as a waiter.14. B) Save enough money..15. A) He has rich sailing experience.16. D) She was also a Nobel Prize winner.17. B) She developed X-ray facilities for military hospitals.18. A) Both died of blood cancer.19. C) They discovered Iceland in the ninth century.20. D) It was a rocky mass of land covered with ice.21. A) Thee Viking’s ocean explorations.22. C) Dream about the future.23. B) Change what he has for his past imaginary world.24. D) International business.25. B) Be content with what you have.2017年12月丨四级阅读阅读第一套参考答案：26-30 K D M O A31-35 F H I C BA. associated （v +ed.）与…相关联B. examine（v.）检查；检测C. indicate（v.）意味；指示；象征D. nuisance（n.）讨厌的人或事E. peak（n.）巅峰；峰值F. preventing（v +ing.）防止；组织G. prohibiting（v +ing.）禁止H. sensitive（a.）敏感的I. slight（a.）微小的J. specify（v.）详细说明；指定K. superior（a.）高超的；优秀的L. suspicious（a.）可疑的M. tip（n.）尖端N. treated（v +ed）被治疗的；被对待的O. visual（a.）视觉的36. I定位：段落第一句，”Yes, my advanced age must fact or into the equation ,in part because of my inability to access the information as quickly.”37. E定位：段落首句。
2017年12月大学英语四级真题参考答案(第二套)
2017年12月大学英语四级真题参考答案Part I WritingAs we widely know that the relationship between parents and children plays a significant role in the domestic relationship, which not only serves as crucial bridge to build trust and connection between two generations but also exerts a profound and subtle influence toward to children’s personal growth.In order to strengthen the relationship, it is imperative to cultivate the respect between generations, which not only includes the respect to parents from children but also the other way around. Furthermore, it is sensible for the parents to spend more time on the company with their children, enhancing the affection between each other. Finally, it is wise for the parents to set an example rather than make demands, enabling the children to follow and achieve spiritual development.To sum up, the sound relationship between two generations requires the integration of numerous measures derived from the joint effort of parents, children and schools.Part II Listening Comprehension1.B) Her little brother.2.C) By selling lemonade and pictures.3.C) Providing clean energy to five million people.4.B) They can be laid right on top of existing highways.5.A) Endless fighting in the region.6.D) To find evidence of the existence of the “lost lions”.7.B) Lions’ tracks.8.D) A special gift from the man.9.D) Threw her a surprise party.10.B) The trip her husband has planned.11.C) He is eager to learn how the couple’s holiday turns out.12.A) They are sensitive to the dynamics of a negotiation.13.B) They know when to stop.14.C) They learn quickly.15.D) Get to know the other side.16.D) How space research benefits people on Earth.17.B) They developed objects for astronauts to use in outer space.18.A) They are extremely accurate.19.C) It marked the beginning of something new.20.A) They believed in working for goals.21.D) Doing needlework by the fire.22.C) Sit down and try to calm yourself.23.B) You may expose yourself to unexpected dangers.24.D) Walk uphill.25.A) Inform somebody of your plan.Part ⅢReading Comprehension26. G)exposure27. L)levels28. F)enroll29. O)participated30. C)championships31. E) developing32. M)local33. N)operates34. I)feeding35. B)career36 H)to be curious, we need to realize first of all that there are many things we don' t know.37. D). according to leslie, curiosity is essential to one s success.38. O)we should feel happy when we pursue knowledge for knowledge s sake39 M)political leaders' lack of curiosity will result in bad consequences.40. B) there are often accusations about.politicians and the media s lack of curiosity to find out the truth41. L)the less curious a child is , the less knowledge the child may turn out to have.42. k) it is widely accepted that academic accomplishment lies in both intelligence and diligence.43. J) a bookshop as curiosity eads us can be a good way to entertain ourselves.44. G)both the rise of the internet and reduced appetite for literary fiction contribute to people' s declining curiosity.45. F)mankind wouldn' t be so innovative without curiosity.46-50: BADCA51-55: CCBDD46. what do believe about aging ?b)they just cannot do anything about It47. how do many scientists view aging now?a) might be prevented and treated48. what does alex zhavoronkov think of describing aging as a disease ?d)it will motivate doctors and pharmacists to find ways to treat aging.49. what do we learn about the medical community?c)they can contribute to people's health only to a limited extend,50. what does professor leonard hayflick believea)the human lifespan cannot be pro-longed51. what do we learn about applicants postdoctoral positions in geosciences?c)more males than females are likely to get outstanding letters of recommendafion52. what do studies about men and women in scientific research show?C)Men are believed to be better able to excel in stem disciplines53. what do the studies find about the recommendation letters for women appli cants?b). they contain nothing that distinguishes the application.54. what did dutt and her colleagues do with the more than 1, 200 letters of recommendationd) they deleted all information about gender.55. what does dutt aim to do with her study?d) start a public discussion on how to raise women's status in academic circles.Part ⅣTranslationMountain Tai, 2,700 m above sea level and 400 square kilometers, which is located in the western part of China. It enjoys not only the magnificent sight, but the high reputation for its historical culture. Mountain Tai is a place of worship for pilgrims for 3,000 thousand years.According to the record, it was visited by 72 emperors in total. Many writers obtain inspiration and compose poems and compositions by visiting Mountain Tai. Besides, artists also draw paintings here. Consequently, there are a lot of cultural relics and historic sites. Nowadays, Mountain Tai has become one of the most well-known tourist attractions in China.。
热门-2017年12月英语四级真题及答案卷二2017英语四级真题答案
2017年12月英语四级真题及答案（卷二）2017英语四级真题答案2017年12月英语四级及答案（卷二）Part I Writing (25 minutes) Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on how to best handle the relationship between parents and children. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words. Part II Listening Comprehension (25 minutes) Section A Directions: In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre. Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard. 1.A) Her friend Erika. C) Her grandfather. B) Her little brother. D) Her grandmother. 2. A) By taking pictures for passers-by. C) By selling lemonade and pictures. B) By working part time at a hospital. D) By asking for help on social media. Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report youhave just heard. 3. A) Finding cheaper ways of highway construction. B) Generating electricpower for passing vehicles. C) Providing clean energy to five million people. D) Testing the efficiency of the new solar panel. 4. A) They can stand the wear and tear of natural elements. B) They can be laid right on top of existing highways. C) They are only about half an inch thick. D)They are made from cheap materials. Questions 5to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.5. A) Endles...。
2017年12月英语四级真题和答案解析(第二套)
20XX年12月大学英语四级考试真题(第2套)Part I Writing (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on how to best handle the relationship between teachers and students. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Part II Listening Comprehension(25 minutes) Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.1. A) It tries to entertain its audience.C) It wants to catch people’s attention.B) It tries to look into the distance.D) It has got one of its limbs injured.2. A) It was spotted by animal protection officials.B) It was filmed by a local television reporter.C) Its videos were posted on social media.D) Its picture won a photography prize.Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.3. A) The distance travelled C) The spending on gas.B) The incidence of road accidents.D) The number of people travelling.4. A) Fewer people are commuting.C) Job growth is slowing down.B) Gas consumption is soaring.D) Rush-hour traffic is worsening.Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.5. A) He told a stranger the sad story about himself.B) He helped a stranger to carry groceries to his car.C) He went up to a stranger and pulled at his sleeves.D) He washed a stranger’s car in return for some food.6. A) He ordered a lot of food for his family.C) He raised a large sum of money for him.B) He gave him a job at his own company.D) He offered him a scholarship for college.7. A) He works hard to support his family.C) He is very good at making up stories.B) He is an excellent student at school.D) He has been disabled since boyhood.Section BDirections:In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.8. A) Attended an economics lecture.C) Had a drink at Queen Victoria.B) Taken a walk on Charles Street.D) Had dinner at a new restaurant.9. A) Treat a college friend to dinner.C) Attend his brother’s birthday party.B) Make preparations for a seminar.D) Visit some of his high school friends.10. A) Gather statistics for his lecture.B) Throw a surprise birthday party.C) Meet with Jonathan’s friends on the weekend.D) Join him in his brother’s birthday celebration.11. A) By car.B) By train.C) By taxi.D) By bus.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12. A) Taking a vacation abroad.C) Saving enough money for a rainy day.B) Reviewing for his last exam.D) Finding a better way to earn money.13. A) Preparing for his final exams.C) Working part time as a waiter.B) Negotiating with his boss for a raise.D) Helping the woman with her courses.14. A) Finish her term paper.C) Learn a little bit of Spanish.B) Save enough money.D) Ask her parent’s permission.15. A) He has rich sailing experience.C) He is also eager to go to Spain.B) He speaks Spanish fluently.D) He is easy to get along with.Section CDirections:In this section, you will hear three passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear three or four questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you mast choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.16. A) She went to the same university as her mother.B) She worked as a nurse in the First World War.C) She won the Nobel Prize two times.D) She was also a Nobel Prize winner.17. A) She fought bravely in a series of military operations.B) She developed X-ray facilities for military hospitals.C) She helped to set up several military hospitals.D) She made donations to save wounded soldiers.18. A) Both died of blood cancer.C) Both won military medals.B) Both fought in World War I.D) Both married their assistants.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.19. A) They were the first settlers in Europe.B) They were the conquerors of Norway.C) They discovered Iceland in the ninth century.D) They settled on a small island north of England.20. A) It was some five hundred miles west of Norway.B) It was covered with green most time of the year.C) It was the Vikings’ most important discovery.D) It was a rocky mass of land covered with ice.21. A) The Vikings, ocean explorations.C) The Vikings’ everyday life.B) The making of European nations.D) The Europeans’ Arctic discoveries. Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22. A) Work hard for a better life.C) Dream about the future.B) Make mistakes now and then.D) Save against a rainy day.23. A) Teach foreign languages for the rest of his life.B) Change what he has for his past imaginary world.C) Exchange his two-story house for a beach cottage.D) Dwell on the dreams he had dreamed when young.24. A) Criminal law.C) Oriental architecture.B) City planning.D) International business.25. A) Dream and make plans.C) Be content with what you have.B) Take things easy in life,D) Enjoy whatever you are doing.Part III Reading Comprehension(40 minutes) Section ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter.Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.Questions 26 to 35 are based on the following passage.Technological changes brought dramatic new options to Americans living in the 1990s. During this decade new forms of entertainment, commerce, research, and communication became commonplace in the U. S. The driving force behind much of this change was a (n) 26 popularly known as the Internet.The Internet was developed during the 1970s by the Department of Defense. In the case of an attack, military advisers suggested the 27 of being able to operate one computer from another terminal. In the early days, the Internet was used mainly by scientists to communicate with other scientists. The Internet 28 under government control until 1984.One early problem faced by Internet users was speed. Phone lines could only transmit information at a 29 rate. The development of fiber-optic (光纤)cables allowed for billions of bits of information to be received every minute. Companies like Intel developed faster microprocessors, so personal computers could process the 30 signals at a more rapid rate.In the early 1990s, the World Wide Web was developed, in large part, for 31 purposes. Corporations created home pages where they could place text and graphics to sell products. Soon airline tickets, hotel 32 , and even cars and homes could be purchased online. Universities33 research data on the Internet, so students could find 34 information without leaving their dormitories. Companies soon discovered that work could be done at home and 35 online, so a whole new class of telecommuters began to earn a living from home offices unshaven and wearing pajamas (睡衣).Section BDirections:In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.The Health Benefits of KnittingA) About 15 years ago, I was invited to join a knitting group. I agreed to give it a try.B) My mother had taught me to knit at 15, and I knitted in class throughout college and for a few years thereafter. Then decades passed without my touching a knitting needle. But within two Mondays in the group, I was hooked, not only on knitting but also on crocheting (钩织), and I was on my way to becoming a highly productive crafter.C) I’ve made countless baby blankets, sweaters, scarves, hats, caps for newborns. I take a knitting project with me everywhere, especially when I have to sit still and listen. As I discovered in college, when my hands are busy, my mind stays focused on the here and now.D) It seems, too, that I’m part of a national renewal of interest in needle and other handicrafts (手工艺).The Craft Yam Council reports that a third of women ages 25-35 now knit or crochet. Even men and schoolchildren are swelling the ranks, among them my Mend’s three small grandsons. Last April, the council created a Stitch Away Stress” campaign in honor of National Stress Awareness Month. Dr. Herbert Benson, a pioneer in mind/body medicine and author of The Relaxation Response, says that the repetitive action of needlework can induce a relaxed state like that associated with meditation (沉思) and yoga. Once you get beyond the initial learning curve, knitting and crocheting can lower heart rate and blood pressure.E) But unlike meditation, craft activities result in tangible and often useful products that can enhance self-esteem. I keep photos of my singular accomplishments on my cellphone to boost my spirits when needed.F) Since the 1990s, the council has surveyed hundreds of thousands of knitters and crocheters, who routinely list stress relief and creative fulfillment as the activities’ main benefits. Among them is the father of a prematurely born daughter who reported that during the baby’s five weeks in the intensive care unit, “learning how to knit infant hats gave me a sense of purpose during a time that I felt very helpless. It’s a hobby that I’ve stuck with, and it continues to help me cope with stress at work, provide a sense of order in hectic (忙乱的) days, and allow my brain time to solve problems.”G) A recent email from the yam (纺纱) company Red Heart titled “Health Benefits ofCrocheting and Knitting” prompted me to explore what else might be known about the health value of activities like knitting. My research revealed that the rewards go well beyond replacing stress and anxiety with the satisfaction of creation.H) For example, Karen Hayes, a life coach in Toronto, conducts knitting therapy programs, including Knit to Quit to help smokers give up the habit, and Knit to Heal for people coping with health crises, like a cancer diagnosis or serious illness of a family member. Schools and prisons with craft programs report that they have a calming effect and enhance social skills. And having to follow instructions on complex craft projects can improve children’s math skills.I) Some people find that craftwork helps them control their weight. Just as it’s challenging to smoke while knitting, when hands are holding needles and hooks, there’s less snacking and mindless eating out of boredom.J) I’ve found that my handiwork with yam has helped my arthritic (患关节炎的)fingers remain more dexterous (灵巧的) as I age. A woman encouraged to try knitting and crocheting after developing an autoimmune disease that caused a lot of hand pain reported on the Craft Yam Council site that her hands are now less stiff and painful.K) A 2009 University of British Columbia study of 38 women with an eating disorder who were taught to knit found that learning the craft led to significant improvements. Seventy-four percent of the women said the activity lessened their fears and kept them from thinking about their problem.L) Betsan Corkhill, a wellness coach in Bath, England, and author of the book Knit for Health & Wellness, established a website, Stitchlinks, to explore the value of what she calls therapeutic knitting. Among her respondents, 54 percent of those who were clinically depressed said that knitting made them feel happy or very happy. In a study of 60 self-selected people with persistent pain, Ms. Corkhill and colleagues reported that knitting enabled them to redirect their focus, reducing their awareness of pain. She suggested that the brain can process just so much at once, and that activities like knitting and crocheting make it harder for the brain to register pain signals. Perhaps most exciting is research that suggests that crafts like knitting and crocheting may help to keep off a decline in brain function with age. In a 2011 study, researchers led by Dr. Yonas Geda at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester interviewed a random (随机的) sample of 1,321 people ages 70-89, most of whom were cognitively (在认知方面) normal, about the cognitive activities they engaged in late in life. The study, published in the Journal of Neuropsychiatry & Clinical Neurosciences, found that those who engaged in crafts like knitting and crocheting had a diminished chance of developing mild cognitive disorder and memory loss.M) Although it is possible that only people who are cognitively healthy would pursue such activities, those who read newspapers or magazines or played music did not show similar benefits.The researchers speculate that craft activities promote the development of nerve pathways in the brain that help to maintain cognitive health.N) In support of that suggestion, a 2014 study by Denise C. Park of the University of Texas at Dallas and colleagues demonstrated that learning to knit or do digital photography enhanced memory function in older adults. Those who engaged in activities that were not intellectually challenging, either in a social group or alone, did not show such improvements.O) Given that sustained social contacts have been shown to support health and a long life, those wishing to maximize the health value of crafts might consider joining a group of like-minded folks.I for one try not to miss a single weekly meeting of my knitting group.36. When the author was a college student, she found that knitting helped her concentrate.37. Knitting can help people stay away from tobacco.38. Even men and children are now joining the army of knitters.39. Being a member of a crafts group enhances one’s health and prolongs one’s life.40. Knitting diverts people’s attention from their pain.41. The author learnt to knit as a teenager, but it was not until she was much older that she became keenly interested.42. When people are knitting, they tend to eat fewer snacks.43. Survey findings show that knitting can help people relieve stress.44. According to a study, knitters and crocheters are less likely to suffer mild cognitive damage.45. The products of knitting can increase one’s sense of self-respect.Section CDirections: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.Nobody really knows how big Lagos is. What’s indisputable is that it’s growing very quickly. Between now and 2050, the urban population of Africa could triple. Yet cities in sub-Saharan Africa are not getting richer the way cities in the rest of the world have. Most urban Africans live in slums (贫民窟); migrants are often not much better off than they were in the countryside. Why?The immediate problem is poverty. Most of Africa is urbanising at a lower level of income than other regions of the world did. That means there’s little money around for investment that would make cities liveable and more productive. Without upgrades and new capacity, bridges, roads and power systems are unable to cope with expanding populations. With the exception of South Africa, the only light rail metro system in sub-Saharan Africa is in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Traffic jam leads to expense and unpredictability, things that keep investors away.In other parts of the world, increasing agricultural productivity and industrialization went together. More productive farmers meant there was a surplus that could feed cities; in turn, that created a pool of labour for factories. But African cities are different. They are too often built around consuming natural resources. Government is concentrated in capitals, so is the money. Most urban Africans work for a small minority of the rich, who tend to be involved in either cronyish (有裙带关系的)businesses or politics. Since African agriculture is still broadly unproductive, food is imported, consuming a portion of revenue.So what can be done? Though African countries are poor, not all African cities are. In Lagos, foreign oil workers can pay as much as $65,000 per year in rent for a modest apartment in a safe part of town. If that income were better taxed, it might provide the revenue for better infrastructure. If city leaders were more accountable to their residents, they might favour projects designed to help them more. Yet even as new roads are built, new people arrive. When a city’s population grows by 5% a year, it is difficult to keep up.46. What do we learn from the passage about cities in sub-Saharan Africa?A) They have more slums than other cities in the world.B) They are growing fast without becoming richer.C) They are as modernised as many cities elsewhere.D) They attract migrants who want to be better off.47. What does the author imply about urbanisation in other parts of the world?A) It benefited from the contribution of immigrants.B) It started when people’s income was relatively high.C) It benefited from the accelerated rise in productivity.D) It started with the improvement of people’s livelihood.48. Why is sub-Saharan Africa unappealing to investors?A) It lacks adequate transport facilities.B) The living expenses there are too high.C) It is on the whole too densely populated.D) The local governments are corrupted.49. In what way does the author say African cities are different?A) They have attracted huge numbers of farm labourers.B) They still rely heavily on agricultural productivity.C) They have developed at the expense of nature.D) They depend far more on foreign investment.50. What might be a solution to the problems facing African cities?A) Lowering of apartment rent.C) More rational overall planning.B) Better education for residents.D) A more responsible government.Passage TwoQuestions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.For the past several decades, it seems there’s been a general consensus on how to get ahead in America: Get a college education, find a reliable job, and buy your own home. But do Americans still believe in that path, and if they do, is it attainable?The most recent National Journal poll asked respondents about the American dream, what it takes to achieve their goals, and whether or not they felt a significant amount of control over their ability to be successful. Overwhelmingly, the results show that today, the idea of the American dream—and what it takes to achieve it—looks quite different than it did in the late 20th century.By and large, people felt that their actions and hard work—not outside forces—were the deciding factor in how their lives turned out. But respondents had decidedly mixed feelings about what actions make for a better life in the current economy.In the last seven years, Americans have grown more pessimistic about the power of education to lead to success. Even though they see going to college as a fairly achievable goal, a majority—52 percent—think that young people do not need a four-year college education in order to be successful.Miguel Maeda, 42, who has a master’s degree and works in public health, was the first in his family to go to college, which has allowed him to achieve a sense of financial stability his parents and grandparents never did.While some, like Maeda, emphasized the value of the degree rather than the education itself, others still see college as a way to gain new perspectives and life experiences.Sixty-year-old Will Fendley, who had a successful career in the military and never earned a college degree, thinks “personal drive” is far more important than just going to college. To Fendley, a sense of drive and purpose, as well as an effective high-school education, and basic life skills, like balancing a checkbook, are the necessary ingredients for a successful life in America.51. It used to be commonly acknowledged that to succeed in America, one had to have ______.A) an advanced academic degree C) a firm belief in their dreamB) an ambition to get ahead D) a sense of drive and purpose52. What is the finding of the latest National Journal poll concerning the American dream?A) More and more Americans are finding it hard to realize.B) It remains alive among the majority of American people.C) Americans’ idea of it has changed over the past few decades.D) An increasing number of young Americans are abandoning it.53. What do Americans now think of the role of college education in achieving success?A) It still remains open to debate.B) It has proved to be beyond doubt.C) It is no longer as important as it used to be.D) It is much better understood now than ever.54. How do some people view college education these days?A) It promotes gender equality.C) It adds to cultural diversity.B) It needs to be strengthened.D) It helps broaden their minds.55. What is one factor essential to success in America, according to Will Fendley?A) A desire to learn and to adapt.C) A willingness to commit oneself.B) A strong sense of responsibility.D) A clear aim and high motivation.Part IV Translation(30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed SO minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.华山位于华阴市，距西安120公里。
2017年12月大学英语四级真题试卷(二)含答案和解析
2017年12月大学英语四级真题试卷（二）作文1. Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on how to best handle the relationship between teachers and students. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Teacher-student Relationship Is Never ComplexThe relationship between teachers and students has been hotly discussed in recent years in China for more and more attention has been paid to education. Today I would like to share some tips on how to get along well with teachers from students’ perspective.First and foremost, leave a good first impression on your teacher. As the saying goes, well begun is half done. A good first impression is important for teachers to remember your name among your fellow students. Secondly, study hard and be active in class. A student who loves study can definitely impress teachers deeply. Finally, keep contact with your teacher after class so that you could make friends with each other.To conclude, teacher-student relationship is never complex if you could have an excellent academic performance, be cooperative in class or make friends with your teacher.解析：短篇新闻2.(D)A. It was spotted by animal protection officials.B. It tries to look into the distance.C. It wants to catch people’s attention.D. Its picture won a photography prize.解析：新闻中提到，根据专家的说法，Pedals明显有一条腿或者爪子受伤，这导致它无法舒服地四肢着地行走，因此答案为D)。
2017年12月英语四级(第二套)听力真题原文及答案.doc
News Item 1A New Jersey black bear that walks upright on its 2 back legs and has become a social media darling has reemerged and has been captured on video month after its last sighting. The bear named Pedals was spotted in a town of Oakrage, in a video posted to Facebook featuring the bear it appear to be inrelatively good health and was moving quickly. "Pedals apparently hasn' t injured leg or pool that doesn' t allow it to walk comfortably on all fulls." according to experts. Laurance sportsman of the state for the state department environmentai protection said,"Officials expect the bear to make it through next winter. The bear first gained fame after was sported the wondering around neighborhoods and was caught on videos that were posted on social media and showed on national television. Last year, supporters pushed for Pedals to be moved to a shelter. But New Jersey officials have said they won z t allowed the bear to be captured and transferred to the facility. The bear would do better in its natural habitat on the agency would step in if its condition deteriorated they said・Ql.Whaf s the probable reason the bear upright on its back legs?A)It tries entertain its audience.B)It tries to look into the distanee.C)It wants to catch people's attention.D)It has got one of its limbs injured.Q2. How is the bear first known for the public?A)It was spotted by animal protection officials.B)It was filmed by a local television reporter.C)Its videos Were posted on social media.D)Its picture won a photography Bfi^l答案：DC新闻听力及原文News Item 2The previous record was 3003 billion miles in 2007 before the econo mic recessio n in high gas prices. The traffic in crease comes at the same time as gas crisis drop sigrdficantly, the current average gas price in US is 1.77$ per gall on. A year ago, it was 2.31$ per z it was ofte n much higher in recent years . A transportation expert told the report the job growth likely plays a part as well, along with some people driving longer distances to and from work. And so all this means more traffic jams on the road. The taxesN&N travel institute found rush hour travellers spent at least 42 on the road last because the traffic delays. Now that is depress! ng.Q3. What new record did the American last year?A)The distanee travelled.B)The incidence of road accidents.C)The spending on gas.D)The number of people travelling.Q4. What is depressing according to the speaker?A)Fewer people are commuting.B)Gas con sumption is soaring.C)Job growth is slowing down.D)Rush-hour traffic is worsening.B)答案：AD新闻听力及原文News 3(A sixty years ' old stra nger had bought him a nd his mother' s food to5.exchange Dranthe' s grocery for his car. What happened next?6. After a couple of weeks a stranger held hundreds of 90 thousand dollars the white said for the teenager Dranthe and the disabled mother. When John approached me ,he just pulled me heart White said. When I looked for him And what is he asking for He is my hero.7.Dranthe is my top student with his best to make it his world with no money and very few resources. Why do the they finding side. He went for work and help the mother finan cially .It' s so right for cha nging for one life. I find cari ng for Dranthe. This is his big chanee he is making it possible.5.What did the teenager Dranthe did to change food?A)He told a stranger the sad story about himself.B)He helped a stranger to carry groceries to his car.C)He went up to a str anger and pulled at his sleeves.D)He washed a stranger's car in return for some food.6.What did the stranger do for Dranthe?A)He ordered a lot of food for his family.B)He gave him a job at his own company.C)He raised a large sum of money for him.D)He offered him a scholarship for college.7.What do we learn about Dranthe?A)He works hard to support his family.B)He is an excellent student at school.C)He is very good at making up stories.D)He has been disabled since boyhood.答案：BCB长对话1原文及答案M: That was my 8」ast week economic lecture ------ the week, here is the weekend again.W: What do you up to do tonight? I was just wondering if we try out to new restaura nt on the sales street, the n go on Victoria for a drink.M: 9. Sorry, F m having home this weekend for my brother' s 18th birthday.W : Oh, that* s great.M: All of my relatives will be right there as well as my brother' s friend. Of course, listen, Mom will be delightedly seeing you again. lO.She' s alwaysasking us about you.W:Yes z T d love to see her too.M:So z please. Do come .It will be great.W: But I will not be ready until 5 o' clock. What time are you heading off?M: well, f m going to leave right away. However, I can hang you over for a while , it just means to change my ticket.W:But that would be a too much trouble for you.M:No z not at all. 11.1 will go to station first. If I can get the ticket first for us at 6.30 train. Then you can drive me there. I will call you after it' s done.W:Brilliant. Are you absolutely possibly okay? When shall we propose ?M: Don' t worry, it# s almost trying our party. And I always say more than Maria.W:Look z I will be go, and we will be late So I will meet you at the station at around 6 o "clock.M:Fine z See you later.8.What has the man just done?A)Attended an economics lecture.B)Taken a walk on Charles Street.C)Had a drink at Queen Victoria.D)Had dinner at a new restaurant.9.What is the man going to do this weekend?A)Treat a college friend to dinner.B)Make preparations for a seminar.C)Attend his brothers birthday party.D)Visit some of his high school friends.10.What does the man ask the woman to do?A)Gather statistics for his lecture.B)Throw a surprise birthday party.C)Meet with Jonathan!s friends on the weekend.D)Join him in his brother's birthday celebration.11.How will they go the man' s home?A)By car.B)By train.C)By taxi.D)By bus.答案：ACDB短文听力原文及答案Passage OneMost people know Marie Curie was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize and the first person to win the twice. However, few people know thatshe was also the mother of Nobel Prize winner. (16)Irene Currie was born on September 12th, 1893. At the age of ten z Irene' s talents and interests in mathematics were apparent. Irene entered Sorbonne University in October 1914 to prepare for a degree in mathematics and physics. (17)When World One began, she left Sorbonne University to help her mother who is using x-ray facility to help save the lives of wounded soldiers. Irene continued this work by developing x-ray for military hospitals in France and Belgium. After the war, she received a military medal for her work. In 1918, Irene became her mother' s assists nt at the Curie Institute. I n December 1924, FJ visited the institute and met Marry Curie. Fred became one of her assistant and Irene taught him the techniques required to work with radioactivity. Irene and Fred soon fell in love and got married on October 29th, 1926. Their daughter was born in 1937 and their son in 1932. (18)Like her mother, Irene was awarded for twice, more than her husband. Her producing new radioactive elements. Unfortunately, also like her mother, she developed blood cancer because of her exposure of the radiation. Irene J. Curie died on March 17th z 1954.Q16: What does the author say about Marry Curie' s daughter?A)She went to the same university as her mother.B)She worked as a nurse in the First World War.C)She won the Nobel Prize two times.D)She was also a Nobel Prize winner.Q17: For what does Irene curie was awarded a military medal?A)She fought bravely in a series of military operations.B)She developed X-ray facilities for military hospitals.C)She helped to set up several military hospitals・D)She made donations to save wounded soldiers.Q1& In what way were marry and Irene similar?A)Both died of blood cancer.B)Both fought in World War I.C)Both won military medals.D)Both married their assistants.B)答案：DBA短文听力原文及答案Passage Two(The storm blew the shake west for several days. 19.when the weather cleared, naddod found himself on the coast of a new land. Later z a hiking traveler named it iceland in 982, a waking called Eric right sailed western ‘search for the new Iand.five hundred miles west the he and his man reached the icy rocky mess of the land . they sailed around it until reaching the western side, 20. here, they found some dream areas so the y name the island dream land. Then, In 1001, the hiking makes the most important discovery, the son of Eric named had heard the rumors about the land, he sailed and found it. He and his men Ianded in three places.They called the first one hallowland, which means lands of flag stone, thehiking them sails south and reached the second landing. They name this place mark land. 21.Eric and his men was the first European to walk on the shores of America, almost five hundred earlier than the Columbia19.what do we learn about the hiking?A)They were the first settlers in Europe・B)They were the conquerors of Norway.C)They discovered Iceland in the ninth century.D)They settled on a small island north of England.20.what does the passage say about the dreamland?A)It was some five hundred miles west of Norway.B)It was covered with green most time of the year・C)It was the Vikings' most important discovery.D)It was a rocky mass of land covered with ice.21.what does the speaker mainly talk about?A)The Vikings f ocean explorations.B)The making of European nations.C)The Vikings' everyday life.D)The Europeans1 Arctic discoveries.答案：CDA短文听力原文及答案Passage TwoPassage Three:Where do you think you will be in ten years? It is difficult to knowexactly where you will be and where you will be doing. (22)Everyone dreamed about the future. You might imagined the job you will get, when you finish school. You may daydream meeting your lifetime partner or living in a big house by the sea. My dreams, I would have twins, a boy and a girl. We would live in a large two-story house with floors and staircases made of wood. Now at the age of 46,1 look back on those dreams and smile. (23)It hasrf t turned out exactly as I imagined, but I would not change what I have now for that imaginary world・(24)1 n college, I studied in ter national business in plants and law school. I n my third year of university, I realized that I didrf t want to become a lawyer. In stead, I chose to become Ian guage teacher. I did get married, but had more than two children, we get five. Do I live in the dream house with wood floors? No I don' t z but I love my home and I wouldt once live in any other place. (25)1 believe that as a young person, it s important to dream and make plans. However, it7 s also important to realize that not all of your plans turned out exactly as you wish. One of the biggest lesson r ve learned in life is this: be happy with what you have.Q22: What does the speaker think every one tends to do?A)Work hard for a better life.B)Make mistakes now and then.C)Dream about the future.D)Save against a rainy day.Q23: What does the speaker say he would refuse to do?A)Teach foreign languages for the rest of his Hfe.B)Change what he has for his past imaginary world.C)Exchange his two-story house for a beach cottage.D)Dwell on the dreams he had dr earned when young.Q24: What does the speaker major in during the first two years of college?A)Criminal law.B)City planning.C)Orientai architecture.D)In ter national busi ness.Q25: What is one of the biggest less on the speaker has lear ned in life?A)Dream and make plans.B)Take things easy in life.C)Be content with what you have.D)Enjoy whatever you are doing. 答案:CBDC。
2017年12月四级英语听力真题第二套（含答案及原文）
2017年12月四级英语听力真题第二套Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre. Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard. 1.A) It tries to entertain its audience.C) It wants to catch people’s attention.B)It tries to look into the distance.D) It has got one of its limbs injured. 2.A) It was spotted by animal protection officials.C) Its videos were posted on social media. B)It was filmed by a local television reporter.D) Its picture won a photography prize. Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard. 3.A) The distance travelled.B) The incidence of road accidents. C) The spending on gas.D) The number of people travelling. 4.A) Fewer people are commuting.B) Gas consumption is soaring. C) Job growth is slowing down.D) Rush-hour traffic is worsening. Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard. 5.A) He told a stranger the sad story about himself. B)He helped a stranger to carry groceries to his car. C)He went up to a stranger and pulled at his sleeves. D)He washed a stranger’s car in return for some food.6.A) He ordered a lot of food for his family. B)He gave him a job at his own company. C)He raised a large sum of money for him. D)He offered him a scholarship for college. 7.A) He works hard to support his family.C) He is very good at making up stories. B) He is an excellent student at school.D) He has been disabled since boyhood. Section B Directions：In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C), and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on single line through the centre. Answer Sheet 1 with a with a single Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 8.A) Attended an economics lecture.C) Had a drink at Queen Victoria. B) Taken a walk on Charles Street.D) Had dinner at a new restaurant. 9.A) Treat a college friend to dinner.C) Attend his brother’s birthday party.B) Make preparations for a seminar.D) Visit some of his high school friends. 10.A)Gather statistics for his lecture. B)Throw a surprise birthday party. C)Meet with Jonathan’s friends on the weekend.D)Join him in his brother’s birthday celebration.11.A) By car.B) By train.C) By taxi.D)By bus. Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard. 12.A) Taking a vacation abroad.B) Reviewing for his last exam. C) Saving enough money for a rainy day.D) Finding a better way to earn money. 13.A) Preparing for his final exams.C) Working part time as a waiter. B) Negotiating with his boss for a raise.D) Helping the woman with her courses. 14.A) Finish her term paper.C) Learn a little bit of Spanish. B) Save enough money.D) Ask her parent’s permission.15.A) He has rich sailing experience.C) He is also eager to go to Spain. B) He speaks Spanish fluently.D) He is easy to get along with. Section C Directions: In this section, you will hear three passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear three or four questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C), D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre. Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard. 16.A) She went to the same university as her mother. B)She worked as a nurse in the First World War. C)She won the Nobel Prize two times. D)She was also a Nobel Prize winner. 17.A) She fought bravely in a series of military operations. B)She developed X-ray facilities for military hospitals. C)She helped to set up several military hospitals. D)She made donations to save wounded soldiers. 18.A) Both died of blood cancer.C) Both won military medals. B) Both fought in World War I.D) Both married their assistants. Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard. 19.A) They were the first settlers in Europe. B)They were the conquerors of Norway. C)They discovered Iceland in the ninth century. D)They settled on a small island north of England. 20.A) It was some five hundred miles west of Norway. B)It was covered with green most time of the year. C)It was the Vikings’ most important discovery.D)It was a rocky mass of land covered with ice. everyday life. 21.A) The Vikings’ ocean explorations.C) The Vikings’ B) The making of European nations.D) The Europeans’ Arctic discoveries. Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard. 22.A) Work hard for a better life.C) Dream about the future. B) Make mistakes now and then.D) Save against a rainy day. 23.A) Teach foreign languages for the rest of his life. B)Change what he has for his past imaginary world. C)Exchange his two-story house for a beach cottage. D)Dwell on the dreams he had dreamed when young. 24.A) Criminal law.C) Oriental architecture. B) City planning.D) International business. 25.A) Dream and make plans.C) Be content with what you have. B)Take things easy in life.D) Enjoy whatever you are doing.答案1. D2. C3. A4. D5. B6. C7. B8. A9. C10. D11. B12. A13. C14. B15. A16. D17. B18. A19. C20. D21. A22. C23. B24. D25. C2017年12月四级英语听力原文第二套Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre. News Report One legs and has two back legs and has A New Jersey black bear that walks upright on its darling has re-emerged and has been captured on become a social media darling has re-emerged and has been captured on The bear named Pedals was video months after its its last sighting. The spotted in the town of Oak Ridge. In a video posted to Facebook featuring the bear, it appeared to be in relatively good health and was moving quickly. (1)Pedals apparently has an injured leg or paw that doesn’t allow it to walk comfortably on all fours according to experts. Lawrence Hajna, spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection, said officials expect the bear to make it through next winter. (2)The bear first gained fame after it was spotted wandering around neighborhoods and was caught on videos that were posted on social media and shown on national television. Last year, supporters pushed for Pedals to be moved to a shelter, but New Jersey officials have said they won’t allow the bear to be captured and transferred to the facility “The bear would do better in its natural habitat and the agency would step in if its condition deteriorated,” they said. 1.What is the probable reason the bear walks upright on its back legs? 2. How is the bear first known to the public? News Report Two worse. It’s not your imagination. Traffic in the US is actually getting (3)Americans drove more miles last year than any other year on record. The US Department of Transportation says Americans drove nearly 3,150 billion miles last year. That’s about the same distance as 337 round trips from Earth to 2007, before the Pluto. The previous record was 3,003 billion miles in economic recession and high gas prices. The traffic increase comes at the same time as gas prices drop significantly. The current average gas price in the US is $1.71 per gallon. A year ago it was $2.31 per gallon and was often much higher in recent years. (4)A transportation expert told growth likely plays a part as well, part as well, along with the reporter that job growth some people driving longer distances to and from work. And so all this means more traffic jams on the road. The Texas A&M Travel Institute found that rush-hour travelers spent an extra 42 hours on the road last year because of travel delays. Now, that is depressing. 3.What new record did the American drivers set last year? 4.What is depressing according to the speaker? News Report Three （5）A 16-year-old asked a stranger at a grocery store to buy him and his mother some food in exchange for carrying man’s groceries to his car. heartstrings. (6)A wonderful What happened next will pull at your bond formed between the two, and within a couple of weeks, the stranger, named White, helped raise $190,000 on a website to support the Memphis teenager and his disabled mother. “When Chauncy approached me, it just pulled at my heart,” White said. “Here comes Chauncy, just trying to get food for him and his mom off the grace of other people. When I looked at him and what he was asking for, I said he he was my saw what he was doing and best to make it who is doing his best hero.” (7) “Chauncy is a top student who White explained on in a world with no money and very few resources,” the crowd funding site. He wants to work and help his mother financially. “It’s so rare that we get an opportunity to affect so much change on one life,” White wrote. “I cannot thank you enough for caring about Chauncy. This is his big chance, and you’re making it possible.”5.What did teenager Chauncy do at the grocery store to get some food? 6.What did the stranger do for Chauncy? 7.What do we learn about Chauncy? Conversation One M:(8)That was my last economics lecture of the week. And here is the weekend again. W:What are you up to tonight? I was just wondering if we could try out the new restaurant on Charles Street, then go on to Queen Victoria for a drink. M:Sorry, (9)I am heading home this weekend for my brother’s 18th birthday. W:Oh, that’s great.M:All my relatives are gonna be there, as well as my brother’s horrible friends be absolutely of course. (10) Listen, why don’t you come along? Mom woulddelighted to see you again. She is always asking after you. W:Yes, I’d love to see her too.M:So please, do come. It would be great. Besides, with Jonathan’s wild game to contain with, I would really welcome an ally. W:That sounds tempting. But I won’t be ready till 5:00, as I’ve got my statistics seminar now. What time are you heading off? M:Well, I was going to leave right away. However, I can hang around for you if my ticket. you like. It just means that I’ll need to change W:But would that be too much trouble for you? M:No, not at all. (11-1)I’ll go to the station first, and see if I can get tickets for us I’ll text you when it’s done. on the 6:30 train. Then, you can drive me there. wouldn’t want to impose.W:Brilliant. Are you absolutely positive it’s okay? IM:Don’t worry. You are most welcome to join our party. And as I always say, -2)So I’ll meet the more, the merrier. W:Look, I’d better go, or I’ll be late. (11you down at the station around 6:00? M:Fine, see you later. Questions 8 and 11 are based on the news report you have just heard. 8.What has the man just done? 9.What is the man going to do this weekend? 10.What does the man ask the woman to do? 11.How would they go to the man’s home?Conversation Two M:Hi, Jane. How is everything going? W:So far so good. I’ve just finished my last exam. a M:Good, the term is coming to an end. (12)Do you think we should take holiday overseas to relax and have fun? fun? (13)I’ve saved my tips for my waiter job these past few months and I should have enough by July. W:Yes, that’s a wonderful idea. (14)I’ve got a little put-aside for a rainy day, but By the way, way, what’s I might need to earn a little more before we go. a restaurant? it like working in a restaurant? n-hour shift is like hell. I am not sure if M:Well, it’s really tough, as working a teit’ll suit you, but it’s pretty cool if your bosses are right. Do you think we should invite some others to come along? W:Yes. We could ask Tom and Tracy if they are interested. I haven’t been abroad for a long while. And it would be great to go somewhere by the sea. I can’t wait. (15)And, if Tom goes, we could go sailing. He has a lot of experience with boats. And it’ll work out a lot cheaper to hire one if there’s more of us to share the cost. lan. We will save as much as we can and go sailing next July. M:So, that’s a p l an. We will save as much as we can and go sailing next July. Let’s say Spain, or anywhere cheap we’ll find. W:OK. But, first we’d better contact Tom and Tracy and see if they are up for it. If not, it will be better to join board. Questions 12 and 15 are based on the news report you have just heard. 12.What does the man think of doing? 13.What has the man been doing for the past few months? 14.What does the woman say she needs to do before departure? 15.Why does the woman want to invite Tom? Section C Passage One Most people know Marie Curie was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize, and the first person to win it twice. (16)However, few people know that she was also the mother of a Nobel Prize winner. Irene’s talents Irene Curie was born on September 12,1987. At the age of 10, apparent. Irene entered Sevigne and interest in mathematics were apparent. Irene entered Sevigne degree in mathematics and University in October,1914, to prepare for her War I began, she left Sevigne University to help her physics. When World War mother, who was using X-ray facilities to help save the lives of wounded soldiers. (17)Irene continued this work by developing X-ray facilities for military in France and Belgium. After the war she received a Military Medal for her work. In 1918, Irene became her mother’s assistant at the Curie Institute. In December 1924, Frederic Joliot visited the Institute where he met Marie Curie. Frederic became one of her assistants and Irene taught him the techniques required to work with radioactivity. Irene and Frederic soon fell in love and got married on October 29,1926. Their daughter was born in 1927 and their son in 1932. Like her mother, Irene combined family with career. Like her mother, Irene was awarded a Nobel Prize, along with her husband, Frederic, in 1935, for producing new radioactive elements. (18)Unfortunately, also like her mother, she developed blood cancer because of her exposure to March17,1956. radiation. Irene Joliot-Curie died on March17,1956. Marie Curie’s daughter?16.What does the speaker say about 17.For what was Irene Curie awarded a Military Medal? 18.In what way were Marie and Irene similar? Passage Two Have you ever heard of the Vikings? They were sea travelers from Norway. More than a thousand years ago, they made three important geographical discoveries (19)The Vikings’ first major discovery occurred in the ninth century. A man called Naddod was on his way from Norway to the Faroe Islands, north of England, when his ship was caught in a storm. The storm blew the ship west for several days. When the weather cleared, Naddod it found himself on the coast of a new land. Later, Viking travelers named Iceland. In 982, a Viking called Eric the Red sailed west in search of new land. (20)Five hundred miles west of Iceland, he and his men reached an icy rocky mass of land. They sailed around it until they reached the western side. Here, they found some green areas, so they named the island Greenland. Then, in 1001, the Vikings made their most important discovery. The son of Eric the Red, named Leif Ericson, had heard rumors about land west of Greenland. He sailed west and soon found it. He and his men landed in three places. They called the first one Helluland, which means land of flat stones. The Vikings then sailed south and made their second landing. They named this place Markland. The third landing was at a place they called Vinland. Leif Ericson and his men were the first Europeans to walk on the shores of North America, almost 500 years earlier than Columbus. 19.What do we learn about the Vikings? 20.What does the passage say about Greenland? talk about? 21.What does the speaker mainly talk about? Passage Three Where do you think you will be in ten years? It’s difficult to know exactly where you will be and what you will bedoing. (22)But everyone dreams about the future. You might imagine the job you will get when you finish school. You may daydream about meeting your life partner or live in a big house by the sea. In my dreams, I would have twins, a boy and a girl. We would live in a large two-story house with floors and the staircase made of wood. Now, at the age of 46, I look back on those dreams and exactly as I imagined. (23)But I smile. Things haven’t turned out exactly inary world. (24)In college, I wouldn’t change what I have now for that imagstudied international business, and planned to enter a law school. In my third year of university, I realized that I didn’t want to become a lawyer. I chose to become a language teacher. I did get married, but had more than two children. Do I live in the dream house with wooden floors? No, I We had five. Do I live don’t. But I love my home and I wouldn’t want to live in any other place. I believe that as a young person, it’s important to dream and make plans. However, it’s also important to realize that not all of your plans will turn out exactly as you wish. (25)One of the biggest lessons I have learned in life is this: Be happy with what you have. 22.What does the speaker think everyone tends to do? 23.What does the speaker say he would refuse to do? speaker say he would refuse 24.What did the speaker major in during the first two years of college? 25.What is one of the biggest lessons the speaker has learned in life? 。
2017年12月英语四级考试真题试卷 ( 第2套)
Part I Writing (30 minute s)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short easy on how to best handle the relationship between teachers and students. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Part II Listening Comprehension (25 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.1. A) It tries entertain its audience.B) It tries to look into the distance.C) It wants to catch people's attention.D) It has got one of its limbs injured.2. A) It was spotted by animal protection officials.B) It was filmed by a local television reporter.C) Its videos Were posted on social media.D) Its picture won a photography prize.Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.3. A) The distance travelled.B) The incidence of road accidents.C) The spending on gas.D) The number of people travelling.4. A) Fewer people are commuting.B) Gas consumption is soaring.C) Job growth is slowing down.D) Rush-hour traffic is worsening.Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.5. A) He told a stranger the sad story about himself.B) He helped a stranger to carry groceries to his car.C) He went up to a stranger and pulled at his sleeves.D) He washed a stranger's car in return for some food.6. A) He ordered a lot of food for his family.B) He gave him a job at his own company.C) He raised a large sum of money for him.D) He offered him a scholarship for college.7. A) He works hard to support his family.B) He is an excellent student at school.C) He is very good at making up stories.D) He has been disabled since boyhood.Section BDirections: In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.8. A) Attended an economics lecture.B) Taken a walk on Charles Street.C) Had a drink at Queen Victoria.D) Had dinner at a new restaurant.9. A) Treat a college friend to dinner.B) Make preparations for a seminar.C) Attend his brothers birthday party.D) Visit some of his high school friends.10. A) Gather statistics for his lecture.B) Throw a surprise birthday party.C) Meet with Jonathan's friends on the weekend.D) Join him in his brother's birthday celebration.11. A) By car.B) By train.C) By taxi.D) By bus.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12. A) Taking a vacation abroad.B) Reviewing for his last exam.C) Saving enough money for a rainy day.D) Finding a better way to earn money.13. A) Preparing for his final exams.B) Negotiating with his boss for a raise.C) Working part time as a waiter.D) Helping the woman with her courses.14. A) Finish her term paper.B) Save enough money.C) Learn a little bit of Spanish.D) Ask her parent's permission.15. A) He has rich sailing experience.B) He speaks Spanish fluently.C) He is also eager to go to Spain.D) He is easy to get along with.Section CDirections: In this section, you will hear three passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear three or four questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.16. A) She went to the same university as her mother.B) She worked as a nurse in the First World War.C) She won the Nobel Prize two times.D) She was also a Nobel Prize winner.17. A) She fought bravely in a series of military operations.B) She developed X-ray facilities for military hospitals.C) She helped to set up several military hospitals.D) She made donations to save wounded soldiers.18. A) Both died of blood cancer.B) Both fought in World War I.C) Both won military medals.D) Both married their assistants.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.19. A) They were the first settlers in Europe.B) They were the conquerors of Norway.C) They discovered Iceland in the ninth century.D) They settled on a small island north of England.20. A) It was some five hundred miles west of Norway.B) It was covered with green most time of the year.C) It was the Vikings' most important discovery.D) It was a rocky mass of land covered with ice.21. A) The Vikings' ocean explorations.B) The making of European nations.C) The Vikings' everyday life.D) The Europeans' Arctic discoveries.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22. A) Work hard for a better life.B) Make mistakes now and then.C) Dream about the future.D) Save against a rainy day.23. A) Teach foreign languages for the rest of his life.B) Change what he has for his past imaginary world.C) Exchange his two-story house for a beach cottage.D) Dwell on the dreams he had dreamed when young.24. A) Criminal law.B) City planning.C) Oriental architecture.D) International business.25. A) Dream and make plans.B) Take things easy in life.C) Be content with what you have.D) Enjoy whatever you are doing.Part Ⅲ Reading Comprehension (40 minutes)Section ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.Technological changes brought dramatic new options to Americans living in the 1990s. During this decade new forms of entertainment, commerce, research, and communication became commonplace in the U.S. The driving force behind much of this change was a(n) 26 popularly known as the Internet.The Internet was developed during the 1970s by the Department of Defense. In the case of an attack, military advisers suggested the 27 of being able to operate one computer from another terminal. In the early days, the Internet was used mainly by scientists to communicatewith other scientists. The Internet 28 under government control until 1984.One early problem faced by Internet users was speed. Phone lines could only transmit information at a 29 rate. The development of fiber-optic (光纤) cables allowed for billions of bits of information to be received every minute. Companies like Intel developed faster microprocessors, so personal computers could process the 30 signals at a more rapid rate. In the early 1990s, the World Wide Web was developed, in large part, for 31 purposes.Corporations created home pages where they could place text and graphics to sell products. Soon airline tickets, hotel 32 , and even cars and homes could be purchased online. Universities 33 research data on the Internet, so students could find 34 information without leaving their dormitories. Companies soon discovered that work could be done at home and 35 online, so a whole new class of telecommuters began to earn a living from home offices unshaven and wearing pajamas (睡衣).A) advantage B) commercial C) conservation D) equipped E) incoming F) innovation G) limited H) local I) maintained J) occupations K) posted L) remained M) reservations N) submitted O) valuableSection BDirections: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.The Health Benefits of KnittingA) About 15 years ago, I was invited to join a knitting group. I agreed to give it a try.B) My mother had taught me to knit at 15, and I knitted in class throughout college and for a few years thereafter. Then decades passed without my touching a knitting needle. But within two Mondays in the group, I was hooked, not only on knitting but also on crocheting (钩织), and I was on my way to becoming a highly productive crafter.C) I've made countless baby blankets, sweaters, scarves, hats, caps for newborns. I take a knitting project with me everywhere, especially when I have to sit still and listen. As I discovered in college, when my hands are busy, my mind stays focused on the here and now.D) It seems, too, that I'm part of a national renewal of interest in needle and other handicrafts (手工艺). The Craft Yarn Council reports that a third of women ages 25-35 now knit or crochet. Even men and schoolchildren are swelling the ranks, among them my friend's three small grandsons. Last April, the council created a "Stitch Away Stress" campaign in honor of National Stress Awareness Month. Dr. Herbert Benson, a pioneer in mind/body medicine and author of The Relaxation Response, says that the repetitive action of needlework can induce a relaxed state like that associated with meditation (沉思) and yoga. Once you get beyond the initial learning curve, knitting and crocheting can lower heart rate and blood pressure.E) But unlike meditation, craft activities result in tangible and often useful products that can enhance self-esteem. I keep photos of my singular accomplishments on my cellphone to boost my spirits when needed.F) Since the 1990s, the council has surveyed hundreds of thousands of knitters and crocheters, who routinely list stress relief and creative fulfillment as the activities' main benefits. Among them is the father of a prematurely born daughter who reported that during the baby's five weeks in the intensive care unit, "learning how to knit infant hats gave me a sense of purpose during a time that I felt very helpless. It's a hobby that I've stuck with, and it continues to help me cope with stress at work, provide a sense of order in hectic (忙乱的）days, and allow my brain time to solve problems."G) A recent email from the yarn (纺纱) company Red Heart titled "Health Benefits of Crocheting and Knitting" prompted me to explore what else might be known about the health value of activities like knitting. My research revealed that the rewards go well beyond replacing stress and anxiety with the satisfaction of creation.H) For example, Karen Hayes, a life coach in Toronto, conducts knitting therapy programs, including Knit to Quit to help smokers give up the habit, and Knit to Heal for people coping with health crises, like a cancer diagnosis or serious illness of a family member. Schools and prisons with craft programs report that they have a calming effect and enhance social skills. And having to follow instructions on complex craft projects can improve children's math skills.I) Some people find that craftwork helps them control their weight. Just as it's challenging to smoke while knitting, when hands are holding needles and hooks, there's less snacking and mindless eating out of boredom.J) I've found that my handiwork with yarn has helped my arthritic (患关节炎的) fingers remain more dexterous (灵巧的) as I age. A woman encouraged to try knitting and crocheting after developing an autoimmune disease that caused a lot of hand pain reported on the Craft Yarn Council site that her hands are now less stiff and painful.K) A 2009 University of British Columbia study of 38 women with an eating disorder who were taught to knit found that learning the craft led to significant improvements. Seventy-four percent of the women said the activity lessened their fears and kept them from thinking about their problem.L) Betsan Corkhill, a wellness coach in Bath, England, and author of the book Knit for Health & Wellness, established a website, Stitchlinks, to explore the value of what she calls therapeutic knitting. Among her respondents, 54 percent of those who were clinically depressed said that knitting made them feel happy or very happy. In a study of 60 self-selected people with persistent pain, Ms. Corkhill and colleagues reported that knitting enabled them to redirect their focus, reducing their awareness of pain. She suggested that the brain can process just so much at once, and that activities like knitting and crocheting make it harder for the brain to register pain signals. Perhaps most exciting is research that suggests that crafts like knitting and crocheting may help to keep off a decline in brain function with age. In a 2011 study, researchers led by Dr. Yonas Geda at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester interviewed a random (随机的）sample of 1,321 people ages 70-89, most of whom were cognitively (在认知方面) normal, about the cognitive activities they engaged in late in life. The study, published in the Journal of Neuropsychiatry & Clinical Neurosciences, found that those who engaged in crafts like knitting and crocheting had a diminished chanceof developing mild cognitive disorder and memory loss.M) Although it is possible that only people who are cognitively healthy would pursue such activities, those who read newspapers or magazines or played music did not show similar benefits. The researchers speculate that craft activities promote the development of nerve pathways in the brain that help to maintain cognitive health.N) In support of that suggestion, a 2014 study by Denise C. Park of the University of Texas at Dallas and colleagues demonstrated that learning to knit or do digital photography enhanced memory function in older adults. Those who engaged in activities that were not intellectually challenging, either in a social group or alone, did not show such improvements.O) Given that sustained social contacts have been shown to support health and a long life, those wishing to maximize the health value of crafts might consider joining a group of like-minded folks. I for one try not to miss a single weekly meeting of my knitting group.36. When the author was a college student, she found that knitting helped her concentrate.37. Knitting can help people stay away from tobacco.38. Even men and children are now joining the army of knitters.39. Being a member of a crafts group enhances one's health and prolongs one's life.40. Knitting diverts people's attention from their pain.41. The author learnt to knit as a teenager, but it was not until she was much older that she became keenly interested.42. When people are knitting, they tend to eat fewer snacks.43. Survey findings show that knitting can help people relieve stress.44. According to a study, knitters and crocheters are less likely to suffer mild cognitive damage.45. The products of knitting can increase one's sense of self-respect.Section CDirections: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 46 and 50 are based on the following passage.Nobody really knows how big Lagos is. What's indisputable is that it's growing very quickly. Between now and 2050, the urban population of Africa could triple. Yet cities in sub-Saharan Africa are not getting richer the way cities in the rest of the world have. Most urban Africans live in slums (贫民窟); migrants are often not much better off than they were in the countryside. Why?The immediate problem is poverty. Most of Africa is urbanising at a lower level of income than other regions of the world did. That means there's little money around for investment that would make cities liveable and more productive. Without upgrades and new capacity, bridges, roads and power systems are unable to cope with expanding populations. With theexception of South Africa, the only light rail metro system in sub-Saharan Africa is in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Traffic jam leads to expense and unpredictability, things that keep investors away.In other parts of the world, increasing agricultural productivity and industrialisation went together. More productive farmers meant there was a surplus that could feed cities; in turn, that created a pool of labour for factories. But African cities are different. They are too often built around consuming natural resources. Government is concentrated in capitals, so is the money. Most urban Africans work for a small minority of the rich, who tend to be involved in either cronyish (有裙带关系的) businesses or politics. Since African agriculture is still broadly unproductive, food is imported, consuming a portion of revenue.So what can be done? Though African countries are poor, not all African cities are. In Lagos, foreign oil workers can pay as much as $65,000 per year in rent for a modest apartment in a safe part of town. If that income were better taxed, it might provide the revenue for better infrastructure. If city leaders were more accountable to their residents, they might favour projects designed to help them more. Yet even as new roads are built, new people arrive. When a city's population grows by 5% a year, it is difficult to keep up.46. What do we learn from the passage about cities in sub-Saharan Africa?A) They have more slums than other cities in the world.B) They are growing fast without becoming richer.C) They are as modernised as many cities elsewhere.D) They attract migrants who want to be better off.47. What does the author imply about urbanisation in other parts of the world?A) It benefited from the contribution of immigrants.B) It started when people's income was relatively high.C) It benefited from the accelerated rise in productivity.D) It started with the improvement of peopled livelihood.48. Why is sub-Saharan Africa unappealing to investors?A) It lacks adequate transport facilities.B) The living expenses there are too high.C) It is on the whole too densely populated.D) The local governments are corrupted.49. In what way does the author say African cities are different?A) They have attracted huge numbers of farm labourers.B) They still rely heavily on agricultural productivity.C) They have developed at the expense of nature.D) They depend far more on foreign investment.50. What might be a solution to the problems facing African cities?A) Lowering of apartment rent.B) Better education for residents.C) More rational overall planning.D) A more responsible government.Passage TwoQuestions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.For the past several decades, it seems there's been a general consensus on how to get ahead in America: Get a college education, find a reliable job, and buy your own home. But do Americans still believe in that path, and if they do, is it attainable?The most recent National Journal poll asked respondents about the American dream, what it takes to achieve their goals, and whether or not they felt a significant amount of control over their ability to be successful. Overwhelmingly, the results show that today，the idea of the American dream—and what it takes to achieve it—looks quite different than it did in the late 20th century.By and large, people felt that their actions and hard work—not outside forces—were the deciding factor in how their lives turned out. But respondents had decidedly mixed feelings about what actions make for a better life in the current economy.In the last seven years, Americans have grown more pessimistic about the power of education to lead to success. Even though they see going to college as a fairly achievable goal, a majority—52 percent—think that young people do not need a four-year college education in order to be successful.Miguel Maeda, 42, who has a master's degree and works in public health, was the first in his family to go to college, which has allowed him to achieve a sense of financial stability his parents and grandparents never did.While some, like Maeda, emphasized the value of the degree rather than the education itself, others still see college as a way to gain new perspectives and life experiences. Sixty-year-old Will Fendley, who had a successful career in the military and never earned a college degree, thinks "personal drive" is far more important than just going to college. To Fendley, a sense of drive and purpose, as well as an effective high-school education, and basic life skills, like balancing a checkbook, are the necessary ingredients for a successful life in America.51. It used to be commonly acknowledged that to succeed in America, one had to have .A) an advanced academic degreeB) an ambition to get aheadC) a firm belief in their dreamD) a sense of drive and purpose52. What is the finding of the latest National Journal poll concerning the American dream?A) More and more Americans are finding it hard to realize.B) It remains alive among the majority of American people.C) Americans' idea of it has changed over the past few decades.D) An increasing number of young Americans are abandoning it.53. What do Americans now think of the role of college education in achieving success?A) It still remains open to debate.B) It has proved to be beyond doubt.C) It is no longer as important as it used to be.D) It is much better understood now than ever.54. How do some people view college education these days?A) It promotes gender equality.B) It needs to be strengthened.C) It adds to cultural diversity.D) It helps broaden their minds.55. What is one factor essential to success in America, according to Will Fendley?A) A desire to learn and to adapt.B) A strong sense of responsibility.C) A willingness to commit oneself.D) A clear aim and high motivation.Part IV Translation (30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.华山位于华阴市，据西安120公里。
(完整word版)2017年12月英语四级真题和答案解析(第二套).docx
2017 年 12 月大学英语四级考试真题(第 2 套)Part I Writing(30 minutes)Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on how to best handle the relationship between teachers and students. You should write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Part II Listening Comprehension(25 minutes) Section ADirections: In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre. Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.1. A) It tries to entertain its audience.C) It wants to catch people’ s attention.B) It tries to look into the distance.D) It has got one of its limbs injured.2.A) It was spotted by animal protection officials.B) It was filmed by a local television reporter.C) Its videos were posted on social media.D) Its picture won a photography prize.Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.3.A) The distance travelled C) The spending on gas.B) The incidence of road accidents.D) The number of people travelling.4.A) Fewer people are commuting.C) Job growth is slowing down.B) Gas consumption is soaring.D) Rush-hour traffic is worsening.Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.5. A) He told a stranger the sad story about himself.B)He helped a stranger to carry groceries to his car.C)He went up to a stranger and pulled at his sleeves.D)He washed a stranger’ s car in return for some food.6.A) He ordered a lot of food for his family.B) He gave him a job at his own company.7.A) He works hard to support his family.B) He is an excellent student at school. Section B C)He raised a large sum of money for him.D)He offered him a scholarship for college.C)He is very good at making up stories.D)He has been disabled since boyhood.Directions: In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation, you will hear four questions. Both the conversation and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre. Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.8.A) Attended an economics lecture.C) Had a drink at Queen Victoria.B) Taken a walk on Charles Street.D) Had dinner at a new restaurant.9.A) Treat a college friend to dinner.C) Attend his brother’ s birthday party.B) Make preparations for a seminar.D) Visit some of his high school friends.10.A) Gather statistics for his lecture.B) Throw a surprise birthday party.C) Meet with Jonathan’ s friends on the weekend.D) Join him in his brother’ s birthday celebration.11. A) By car.B) By train.C) By taxi.D) By bus.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12. A) Taking a vacation abroad.C) Saving enough money for a rainy day.B) Reviewing for his last exam.13.A) Preparing for his final exams. B) Negotiating with his boss for a raise.14.A) Finish her term paper.B) Save enough money.15.A) He has rich sailing experience.B) He speaks Spanish fluently. Section C D)Finding a better way to earn money.C)Working part time as a waiter.D)Helping the woman with her courses.C)Learn a little bit of Spanish.D) Ask her parent’ s permission.C)He is also eager to go to Spain.D)He is easy to get along with.Directions: In this section, you will hear three passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear three or four questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you mast choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line through the centre. Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.16.A) She went to the same university as her mother.B) She worked as a nurse in the First World War.C) She won the Nobel Prize two times.D) She was also a Nobel Prize winner.17.A) She fought bravely in a series of military operations.B) She developed X-ray facilities for military hospitals.C) She helped to set up several military hospitals. D)She made donations to save wounded soldiers.18. A) Both died of blood cancer.C) Both won military medals.B) Both fought in World War I.D) Both married their assistants.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.19. A) They were the first settlers in Europe.B)They were the conquerors of Norway.C)They discovered Iceland in the ninth century.D)They settled on a small island north of England. 20.A) It was some five hundred miles west of Norway.B)It was covered with green most time of the year.C)It was the Vikings’ most important discovery.D)It was a rocky mass of land covered with ice.21.A) The Vikings, ocean explorations.C) The Vikings’ everyday life.B) The making of European nations.D) The Europeans’ Arctic discoveries. Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22.A) Work hard for a better life.C) Dream about the future.B) Make mistakes now and then.D) Save against a rainy day.23.A) Teach foreign languages for the rest of his life. B)Change what he has for his past imaginary world. C)Exchange his two-story house for a beach cottage. D)Dwell on the dreams he had dreamed when young.24.A) Criminal law.C) Oriental architecture.B) City planning.D) International business.25.A) Dream and make plans.C) Be content with what you have.B) Take things easy in life,D) Enjoy whatever you are doing.Part III Reading Comprehension(40 minutes) Section ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. 4Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line throughthe centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.Questions 26 to 35 are based on the following passage.Technological changes brought dramatic new options to Americans living in the 1990s. During this decade new forms of entertainment, commerce, research, and communication became commonplace in the U. S. The driving force behind much of this change was a (n) 26 popularly known as the Internet.The Internet was developed during the 1970s by the Department of Defense. In the case of an attack, military advisers suggested the27of being able to operate one computer from another terminal. In the early days, the Internet was used mainly by scientists to communicate with other scientists. The Internet28under government control until 1984.One early problem faced by Internet users was speed. Phone lines could only transmit information at a29rate. The development of fiber-optic ( 光纤 )cables allowed for billions of bits of information to be received every minute. Companies like Intel developed faster microprocessors, so personal computers could process the30signals at a more rapid rate.In the early 1990s, the World Wide Web was developed, in large part, for31purposes. Corporations created home pages where they could place text and graphics to sell products. Soon airline tickets, hotel32, and even cars and homes could be purchased online. Universities33research data on the Internet, so students could find34information without leaving their dormitories. Companies soon discovered that work could be done at home and35online, so a whole new class of telecommuters began to earn a living from home offices unshaven and wearing pajamas (睡衣 ).A) advantage I) maintainedB) commercial J) occupationsC) conservation K) postedD) equipped L) remainedE) incoming M) reservationsF) innovation N) submittedG) limited O) valuableH) localSection BDirections: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Eachstatement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from whichthe information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph ismarked with a letter. Answer the questions by marking the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.The Health Benefits of KnittingA)About 15 years ago, I was invited to join a knitting group. I agreed to give it a try.B)My mother had taught me to knit at 15, and I knitted in class throughout college and for afew years thereafter. Then decades passed without my touching a knitting needle. But within twoMondays in the group, I was hooked, not only on knitting but also on crocheting ( 钩织 ), and I wason my way to becoming a highly productive crafter.C)I ’ vemade countless baby blankets, sweaters, scarves, hats, caps for newborns. I take aknitting project with me everywhere, especially when I have to sit still and listen. As I discoveredin college, when my hands are busy, my mind stays focused on the here and now.D) It seems, too, that I’ m part of a national renewal of interest in needle and other handicrafts(手工艺 ).The Craft Yam Council reports that a third of women ages 25-35 now knit or crochet.Even men and schoolchildren are swelling the ranks, among them my Mend’ s three small grandsons Last April, the council created a Stitch Away Stress”campaign in honor of National StressAwareness Month. Dr. Herbert Benson, a pioneer in mind/body medicine and author of TheRelaxation Response, says that the repetitive action of needlework can induce a relaxed state likethat associated with meditation ( 沉思 ) and yoga. Once you get beyond the initial learning curve,knitting and crocheting can lower heart rate and blood pressure.E)But unlike meditation, craft activities result in tangible and often useful products that canenhance self-esteem. I keep photos of my singular accomplishments on my cellphone to boostmy spirits when needed.F)Since the 1990s, the council has surveyed hundreds of thousands of knitters and crocheters,who routinely list stress relief and creative fulfillment as the activities’ main benefits. A is the father of a prematurely born daughter who reported that during the baby’ s five weeks intensive care unit,“ learning how to knit infant hats gave me a sense of purpose during a time thatI felt very helpless. It’ s a hobby that I’ ve stuck with, and it continues to help me cope with stress at work, provide a sense of order in hectic ( 忙乱的 ) days, and allow my brain time to solve problems.”G) A recent email from the yam ( 纺纱 ) company Red Heart titled“ HealthBenefits ofCrocheting and Knitting ” prompted me to explore what else might be known about the health value ofactivities like knitting. My research revealed that the rewards go well beyond replacing stress and anxietywith the satisfaction of creation.H)For example, Karen Hayes, a life coach in Toronto, conducts knitting therapy programs,including Knit to Quit to help smokers give up the habit, and Knit to Heal for people coping with healthcrises, like a cancer diagnosis or serious illness of a family member. Schools and prisons with craftprograms report that they have a calming effect and enhance social skills. And having to followinstructions on complex craft projects can improve children’ s math skills.I) Some people find that craftwork helps them control their weight. Just as it’ s challe smoke while knitting, when hands are holding needles and hooks, there’ s less snacking and mind eating out of boredom.J) I ’ ve found that my handiwork with yam has helped my arthritic患(关节炎的 )fingers remainmore dexterous ( 灵巧的) as I age. A woman encouraged to try knitting and crocheting afterdeveloping an autoimmune disease that caused a lot of hand pain reported on the Craft Yam Councilsite that her hands are now less stiff and painful.K) A 2009 University of British Columbia study of 38 women with an eating disorder whowere taught to knit found that learning the craft led to significant improvements. Seventy-fourpercent of the women said the activity lessened their fears and kept them from thinking about theirproblem.L)Betsan Corkhill, a wellness coach in Bath, England, and author of the book Knit for Health&Wellness, established a website, Stitchlinks, to explore the value of what she calls therapeuticknitting. Among her respondents, 54 percent of those who were clinically depressed said thatknitting made them feel happy or very happy. In a study of 60 self-selected people with persistentpain, Ms. Corkhill and colleagues reported that knitting enabled them to redirect their focus,reducing their awareness of pain. She suggested that the brain can process just so much at once, andthat activities like knitting and crocheting make it harder for the brain to register pain signals.Perhaps most exciting is research that suggests that crafts like knitting and crocheting may help tokeep off a decline in brain function with age. In a 2011 study, researchers led by Dr. Yonas Geda atthe Mayo Clinic in Rochester interviewed a random ( 随机的 ) sample of 1,321 people ages 70-89,most of whom were cognitively ( 在认知方面 ) normal, about the cognitive activities they engaged inlate in life. The study, published in the Journal of Neuropsychiatry & Clinical Neurosciences, foundthat those who engaged in crafts like knitting and crocheting had a diminished chance of developingmild cognitive disorder and memory loss.M)Although it is possible that only people who are cognitively healthy would pursue suchactivities, those who read newspapers or magazines or played music did not show similar benefits.The researchers speculate that craft activities promote the development of nerve pathways in thebrain that help to maintain cognitive health.N)In support of that suggestion, a 2014 study by Denise C. Park of the University of Texas atDallas and colleagues demonstrated that learning to knit or do digital photography enhancedmemory function in older adults. Those who engaged in activities that were not intellectuallychallenging, either in a social group or alone, did not show such improvements.O)Given that sustained social contacts have been shown to support health and a long life, thosewishing to maximize the health value of crafts might consider joining a group of like-minded folks.I for one try not to miss a single weekly meeting of my knitting group.36.When the author was a college student, she found that knitting helped her concentrate.37.Knitting can help people stay away from tobacco.38.Even men and children are now joining the army of knitters.39.Being a member of a crafts group enhances one’ s health and prolongs one’ s life.40.Knitting diverts people’ s attention from their pain.41.The author learnt to knit as a teenager, but it was not until she was much older that shebecame keenly interested.42.When people are knitting, they tend to eat fewer snacks.43.Survey findings show that knitting can help people relieve stress.44.According to a study, knitters and crocheters are less likely to suffer mild cognitive damage.45. The products of knitting can increase one’ s sense of self-respect.Section CDirections: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions orunfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Youshould decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a singleline through the centre.Passage OneQuestions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.Nobody really knows how big Lagos is. What’ s indisputable is that it’ s growing very quick Between now and 2050, the urban population of Africa could triple. Yet cities in sub-SaharanAfrica are not getting richer the way cities in the rest of the world have. Most urban Africans live inslums (贫民窟 ); migrants are often not much better off than they were in the countryside. Why?The immediate problem is poverty. Most of Africa is urbanising at a lower level of income thanother regions of the world did. That means there ’ s little money around for investment that would make citiesliveable and more productive. Without upgrades and new capacity, bridges, roads andpower systems are unable to cope with expanding populations. With the exception of South Africa,the only light rail metro system in sub-Saharan Africa is in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Traffic jam leadsto expense and unpredictability, things that keep investors away.In other parts of the world, increasing agricultural productivity and industrialization wenttogether. More productive farmers meant there was a surplus that could feed cities; in turn, thatcreated a pool of labour for factories. But African cities are different. They are too often built aroundconsuming natural resources. Government is concentrated in capitals, so is the money. Most urbanAfricans work for a small minority of the rich, who tend to be involved in either cronyish (有裙带关系的 )businesses or politics. Since African agriculture is still broadly unproductive,food isimported, consuming a portion of revenue.So what can be done? Though African countries are poor, not all African cities are. In Lagos,foreign oil workers can pay as much as $65,000 per year in rent for a modest apartment in a safepart of town. If that income were better taxed, it might provide the revenue for better infrastructure.If city leaders were more accountable to their residents, they might favour projects designed to helpthem more. Yet even as new roads are built, new people arrive. When a city ’ s population grow 5% a year, it is difficult to keep up.46.What do we learn from the passage about cities in sub-Saharan Africa?A) They have more slums than other cities in the world.B) They are growing fast without becoming richer.C) They are as modernised as many cities elsewhere.D) They attract migrants who want to be better off.47.What does the author imply about urbanisation in other parts of the world?A) It benefited from the contribution of immigrants.B) It started when people’ s income was relatively high.C)It benefited from the accelerated rise in productivity.D) It started with the improvement of people’ s livelihood.48.Why is sub-Saharan Africa unappealing to investors?A) It lacks adequate transport facilities.B) The living expenses there are too high.C) It is on the whole too densely populated.D) The local governments are corrupted.49.In what way does the author say African cities are different?A) They have attracted huge numbers of farm labourers.B) They still rely heavily on agricultural productivity.C) They have developed at the expense of nature. D)They depend far more on foreign investment.50.What might be a solution to the problems facing African cities?A) Lowering of apartment rent.C) More rational overall planning.B) Better education for residents.D) A more responsible government.Passage TwoQuestions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.For the past several decades, it seems there’ s been a general consensus on how to get ahead in America: Get a college education, find a reliable job, and buy your own home. But do Americansstill believe in that path, and if they do, is it attainable?The most recent National Journal poll asked respondents about the American dream, what ittakes to achieve their goals, and whether or not they felt a significant amount of control over theirability to be successful. Overwhelmingly, the results show that today, the idea of the Americandream — and what it takes to achieve it—looks quite different than it did in the late 20th century.By and large, people felt that their actions and hard work — not outside forces — werethedeciding factor in how their lives turned out. But respondents had decidedly mixed feelings aboutwhat actions make for a better life in the current economy.In the last seven years, Americans have grown more pessimistic about the power of education tolead to success. Even though they see going to college as a fairly achievable goal, a majority52 percent — thinkthat young people do not need a four-year college education in order to besuccessful.Miguel Maeda, 42, who has a master’ s degree and works in public health, was the first in his family to go to college, which has allowed him to achieve a sense of financial stability hisparents and grandparents never did.While some, like Maeda, emphasized the value of the degree rather than the education itself,others still see college as a way to gain new perspectives and life experiences.Sixty-year-old Will Fendley, who had a successful career in the military and never earned acollege degree, thinks “ personal drive ” is far more important than just going to college. To Fendley, a sense of drive and purpose, as well as an effective high-school education, and basic life skills, like balancing a checkbook, are the necessary ingredients for a successful life in America.51. It used to be commonly acknowledged that to succeed in America, one had to have ______.A) an advanced academic degree C) a firm belief in their dreamB) an ambition to get ahead D) a sense of drive and purpose52.What is the finding of the latest National Journal poll concerning the American dream?A) More and more Americans are finding it hard to realize.B) It remains alive among the majority of American people.C) Americans ’ idea of it has changed over the past few decades. D)An increasing number of young Americans are abandoning it.53.What do Americans now think of the role of college education in achieving success?A) It still remains open to debate.B) It has proved to be beyond doubt.C) It is no longer as important as it used to be.D) It is much better understood now than ever.54.How do some people view college education these days?A) It promotes gender equality.C) It adds to cultural diversity.B) It needs to be strengthened.D) It helps broaden their minds.55. What is one factor essential to success in America, according to Will Fendley?A)A desire to learn and to adapt.B)A strong sense of responsibility. C)A willingness to commit oneself.D)A clear aim and high motivation.Part IV Translation(30 minutes) Directions: For this part, you are allowed SO minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.华山位于华阴市，距西安120 公里。
2017年12月四级真题第2套
2017年12月大学英语四级考试真题（第二套）Part I Writing (30 minutes) Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to write a short essay on how to best handle the relationship between teachers and students. Youshould write at least 120 words but no more than 180 words.Part II Listening Comprehension (25 minutes) Section ADirections:In this section, you will hear three news reports. At the end of each news report, you will hear two or three questions. Both the news report andthe questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, youmust choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) andD). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a singleline through the centre.Questions 1 and 2 are based on the news report you have just heard.1. A) It tries to entertain its audience.B) It tries to look into the distance.C) It wants to catch people’s attention.D) It has got one of its limbs injured.2. A) It was spotted by animal protection officials.B) Its videos were posted on social media.C) It was filmed by a local television reporter.D) Its picture won a photography prize.Questions 3 and 4 are based on the news report you have just heard.3. A) The distance travelled.B) The incidence of road accidents.C) The spending on gas.D) The number of people travelling.4. A) Fewer people are commuting.B) Gas consumption is soaring.C) Job growth is slowing down.D) Rush-hour traffic is worsening.Questions 5 to 7 are based on the news report you have just heard.5. A) He told a stranger the sad story about himself.B) He helped a stranger to carry groceries to his car.C) He went up to a stranger and pulled at his sleeves.D) He washed a stranger’s car in return for some food.6. A) He ordered a lot of food for his family.B) He gave him a job at his own company.C) He raised a large sum of money for him.D) He offered him a scholarship for college.7. A) He works hard to support his family.B) He is an excellent student at school.C) He is very good at making up stories.D) He has been disabled since boyhood.Section BDirections: In this section, you will hear two long conversations. At the end of each conversation you will hear four questions. Both the conversations andthe question-s will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, youmust choose the best answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) andD). Then mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a singleline through the centre.Questions 8 to 11 are based on the conversation you have just heard.8. A) Attended an economics lecture.B) Taken a walk on Charles Street.C) Had a drink at Queen Victoria.D) Had dinner at a new restaurant.9. A) Treat a college friend to dinner.B) Make preparations for a seminar.C) Attend his brother’s birthday party.D) Visit some of his high school friends.10. A) Gather statistics for his lecture.B) Throw a surprise birthday party.C) Meet with Jonathan’s friends on the weekend.D) Join him in his brother’s birthday celebration.11. A) By car. C) By taxi.B) By train. D) By bus.Questions 12 to 15 are based on the conversation you have just heard.12. A) Taking a vacation abroad.B) Reviewing for his last exam.C) Saving enough money for a rainy day.D) Finding a better way to earn money.13. A) Preparing for his final exams.B) Negotiating with his boss for a raise.C) Working part time as a waiter.D) Helping the woman with her courses.14. A) Finish her term paper. C) Learn a little bit of Spanish.B) Save enough money. D) Ask her parents’ permission.15. A) He has rich sailing experience. C) He is also eager to go to Spain.B) He speaks Spanish fluently. D) He is easy to get along with.Section CDirections:In this section, you will hear three passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear three or four questions. Both the passage and the questionswill be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose thebest answer from the four choices marked A), B), C) and D).Then markthe corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 1 with a single line throughthe centre.Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.16. A) She went to the same university as her mother.B) She worked as a nurse in the First World War.C) She won the Nobel Prize two times.D) She was also a Nobel Prize winner.17. A) She fought bravely in a series of military operations.B) She developed X-ray facilities for military hospitals.C) She helped to set up several military hospitals.D) She made donations to save wounded soldiers.18. A) Both died of blood cancer. C) Both won military medals.B) Both fought in World War I. D) Both married their assistants.Questions 19 to 21 are based on the passage you have just heard.19. A) They were the first settlers in Europe.B) They were the conquerors of Norway.C) They discovered Iceland in the ninth century.D) They settled on a small island north of England.20. A) It was some five hundred miles west of Norway.B) It was covered with green most time of the year.C) It was the Vikings’ most important discovery.D) It was a rocky mass of land covered with ice.21. A) The Vikings’ ocean explorations.C) The Vikings’ e veryday life.B) The making of European nations. D) The Europeans’ Arctic discoveries.Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.22. A) Work hard for a better life.B) Make mistakes now and then.C) Dream about the future.D) Save against a rainy day.23. A) Teach foreign languages for the rest of his life.B) Change what he has for his past imaginary world.C) Exchange his two-story house for a beach cottage.D) Dwell on the dreams he had dreamed when young.24. A) Criminal law. C) Oriental architecture.B) City planning. D) International business.25. A) Dream and make plans.B) Take things easy in life.C) Be content with what you have.D) Enjoy whatever you are doing.Part III Reading Comprehension (40 minutes) Section ADirections: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a wordbank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully beforemaking your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter.Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the wordsin the bank more than once.Questions 26 to 35 are based on the following passage.We all know there exists great void (空白) in the public educational systemwhen it comes to 26 to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), One educator named Dori Roberts decided to do something to change this system. Dori taught high school engineering for 11 years. She noticed there was a real void in quality STEM education at all 27 of the public educational system. She said, “I started Engineering for kids (EFK) after noticing a real lack of math, science and engineering programs to 28 my own kids in.”She decided to start an after school program where children 29 in STEM-based competitions. The club grew quickly and when it reached 180 members and the kids in the program won several state 30 . She decided to devote all her time to cultivating and 31 it. The global business EFK was born.Dori began operating EFK out of her Virginia home, which she then expanded to 32 recreation centers. Today, the EFK program 33 over 144 branches in 32 states within the United States and in 21 countries. Sales have doubled from $5 million in 2014 to $10 million in 2015, with 25 new branches planned for 2016. The EFK website states, “Our nation is not34 enough engineers. Our philosophy is to inspire kids at a young age to understand that engineering is a great 35 .”A) attracted I)feedingB) career J) graduatingC) championships K) interestD) degrees L) levelsE) developing M) localF) enroll N) operatesG) exposure O) participatedH) feasibleSection BDirections:In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of theparagraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information isderived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraphis marked with a letter. Answer the question by marking thecorresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2.Why aren’t you curious about what happened?[A] “You suspended ray rice after our video,”a reporter from TMZ challenged National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell the other day. “Why didn’tyou have the curiosity to go to the casino (赌场) yourself?” The implication of thequestion is that a more curious.[B] The accusation of incuriosity is one that we hear often, carrying the suggestion that there is something wrong with not wanting to search out the truth. “I have been bothered for a long time about the curious lack of curiosity,” said a Democratic member of the New Jersey legislature back in July, referring to an insufficiently inquiring attitude on the part of an associate to New Jersey Governor Chris Christie who chose not to ask hard questions about the George Washington Bridge traffic scandal “Isn’t the mainstream media the least curious about what happened?” wrote conservative writer Jennifer Rubin earlier this year referring to the attack on Americans in Benghazi, Libya.[C] The implication, in each case is that curiosity is a good thing, and a lack of curiosity is a problem are such accusations simply efforts to score political points for one’s party? Or is here something of particular value about curiosity in and of itself.[D] The journalist Ian Leslie, in his new and enjoyable book Curious: The Desire to Know and Why Your Future Depends on It, insists that the answer to that last question is yes. Leslie argues that curiosity is a much-overlooked human virtue, crucial to our success, and that we are losing it.[E] We are suffering. He writes from a “serendipity deficit”. The word “serendipity” was coined by Horace Walpole in an 1854 letter from a tale of three princes who were always making discoveries by accident, of things they were not in search of. Leslie worries that the rise of the internet, among other social and technological changes, has reduced our appetite for aimless adventures no longer have we the inclination to let ourselves wander through fields of knowledges, ready to be surprised. Instead, we seek only the information we want.[F] Why is this a problem? Because without curiosity we will lose the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship. We will see unimaginative governments and dying corporations make disastrous decisions. We will lose a vital part of what has madehumanity as a whole so successful as a species.[G] Leslie presents considerable evidence for the proposition that the society as a whole is growing less curious. In the U.S and Europe, for example, the rise of the Internet has led to a declining consumption of news from outside the reader’s borders .But not everything is to be blamed on technology. The decline in interest in literary fiction is also one of the causes identified by Leslie. Reading literary fiction, he says, make us more curious.[H] Moreover, in order to be curious, “you have to be aware of a gap in your knowledge in the first place.”Although Leslie perhaps paints a bit broadly in contending that most of us are unaware of how much we don’t know he’s surely right to point out that the problem is growing: “Google can give us the powerful illusion that all questions have definite answers.”[I] Indeed, Google, for which Leslie expresses admiration, is also his frequent whipping body (替罪羊). He quotes Google co-founder Larry Page to the effect thatthe perfect search engine will “understand exactly what I mean and give me back exactly what I want” elsewhere in the book, Leslie writes, “google aims to save you from the thirst of curiosity altogether.”[J] Somewhat nostalgically(怀旧地), He quotes John Maynard Keynes’s justlyfamous words of praise to the bookstore: “One should enter it vaguely, almost in a dream, and allow what is there freely to attract and influence the eye to walk the rounds of the bookshops, dipping curiosity dictates, should be an afternoons entertainment.” If only![K] Citing the work of psychologists and cognitive (认知的) scientists, Lesliecriticizes the received wisdom that academic success is the result of a combination of intellectual talent and hard work. Curiosity, he argues, is the third key factor—and a difficult one to preserve, if not cultivated, it will not survive “Childhood curiosity is a collaboration between child and adult. The surest way to kill it is to leave it alone.”[L] School education, he warns, is often conducted in a way that makes children incurious: children of educated and upper-middle-class parents turn out to be far morecurious, even at early ages than children of working class and lower class families. That lack of curiosity produces a relative lack of knowledge, and the lack of knowledge is difficult if not impossible to compensate for later on.[M] Although Leslie’s book isn’t about politics, he doesn’t entirely shy away from the problem. Political leaders, like leaders of other organizations, should be curious. They should ask questions at crucial moments. There are serious consequences, he warns, in not wanting to know.[N] He presents as an example the failure of the George W Bush administration to prepare properly for the after-effects of the invasion of Iraq. According to Leslie, those who ridiculed former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld for his 2002 remark that we have to be wary of the un-known unknowns were mistaken. Rumsfeld’s idea, Leslie writes, “wasn’t absurd—it was smart.” He adds, “The tragedy is that he didn’t follow his own advice.”[O] All of which brings us back to Goodell and the Christie case and Benghazi. Each critic in those examples is changing, in a different way that someone in authority is intentionally being incurious. I leave it to the reader’s political preference to decide which, if any, charges should remaining determinedly incurious about our own. We should be delighted to pursue knowledge for its own sake—even when what we find out is something we didn’t particularly want to know.36. To be curious, we need to realize first of all that there are many things we don’tknow.37. According to Leslie, curiosity is essential to one’s success.38. We should feel happy when we pursue knowledge for knowledge’s sake.39. Political leaders’ lack of curiosity will result in bad consequences.40. There are often accusations about politicians’ and the media’s lack of curiosity tofind out the truth.41. The less curious a child is, the less knowledge the child may turn out to have.42. It is widely accepted that academic accomplishment lies in both intelligence anddiligence.43. Visiting a bookshop as curiosity leads us can be a good way to entertain ourselves.44. Both the rise of the Internet and reduced appetite for literary fiction contribute topeoples declining curiosity.45. Mankind wouldn’t be so innovative without curiosity.Section CDirections: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are fourchoices marked A), B), C) and D). You should decide on the best choiceand mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single linethrough the centre.Passage OneQuestions 46 to 50 are based on the following passage.Aging happens to all of us, and is generally thought of as a natural part of life. It would seem silly to call such a thing a “disease”.On the other hand, scientists are increasingly learning that aging and biological age are two different things, and that the former is a key risk factor for conditions such as heart disease, cancer and many more. In that light, aging itself might be seen as something treatable, the way you would treat high blood pressure or a vitamin deficiency.Biophysicist Alex Zhavoronkov believes that aging should be considered a disease. He said that describing aging as a disease creates incentives to develop treatments.“It unties the hands of the pharmaceutical (制药的) industry so that they canbegin treating the disease and not just the side effects,” he said.“Right now, people think of aging as natural and something you can’t control.” he said. “In academic circles, people take aging resea rch as just an interest area where they can try to develop interventions. The medical community also takes aging for granted, and can do nothing about it except keep people within a certain health range.”But if aging were recognized as a disease, he said, “It would attract funding and change the way we do health care. What matters is understanding that aging is curable.”“It was always known th at the body accumulates damage,” he added. “The only way to cure aging is to find ways to repair that damage. I think of it as preventive medicine for age-related conditions.Leonard Hayflick, a professor at the university of California, San Francisco, said the idea that aging can be cured implies the human lifespan can be increased, which some researchers suggest is possible. Hayflick is not among them.“There’re many people who recover from cancer, stroke or heart disease. But they continue to age, because aging is separate from their disease,”Hayflick said. “Even if those causes of death were eliminated, life expectancy would still not go much beyond 92 years.”46. What do people generally believe about aging?A) It should cause no alarm whatsoever.B) They just cannot do anything about it.C) It should be regarded as a kind of diseaseD) They can delay it with advances in science47. How do many scientists view aging now?A) It might be prevented and treated.B) It can be as risky as heart disease.C) Results from a vitamin deficiency.D) It is an irreversible biological process.48. What does Alex Zhavoronkov think of describing aging as a disease?A) It will prompt people to take aging more seriously.B) It will greatly help reduce the side effects of aging.C) It will free pharmacists from the conventional beliefs about aging.D) It will motivate doctors and pharmacists to find ways to treat aging.49. What do we learn about the medical community?A) They differ from the academic circles in their view on aging.B) They now have a strong interest in research on aging.C) They can contribute to people’s health only to a limited extent.D) They have ways to intervene in people’s aging process.50. What does Professor Leonard Hayflick believe?A) The human lifespan cannot be prolonged.B) Aging is hardly separable from disease.C) Few people live up to the age of 92.D) Heart disease is the major cause of aging.Passage TwoQuestion 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.Female applicants to postdoctoral positions in geosciences were nearly half as likely to receive excellent letters of recommendation, compared with their male counterparts. Christopher Intagliata reports.As in many other fields, gender bias is widespread in the sciences. Men scorehigher in starting salaries, have more mentoring (指导), and have better odds of beinghired. Studies show they’re also perceived as more competent than women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields. And new research reveals that men are more likely to receive excellent letters of recommendation, too.“Say, you know, this is the best student I’ve ever had,” says Kuheli Dutt, a social scientist and delivery officer at Columbia University’s Lamont campus. “Compare those excellent letters with a merely good letter: ‘The candidate was productive, or intelligent, or a solid scientist or something that’s clearly solid praise,’ but nothing that singles out the candidate as exceptional or one if a kind.”Dutt and her colleagues studied more than 1,200 letters of recommendation for postdoctoral positions in geoscience. They were all edited for gender and other identifying information, so Dutt and her team could assign them a score without knowing the gender of the student. They found that female applicants were only half as likely to get outstanding letters, compared with their male counterparts. That includes letters of recommendation from all over the world, and written by, yes, men and women. The findings are in the journal Nature Geoscience.Dutt says they were not able to evaluate the actual scientific qualifications of the applicants using the data in the files. But she says the results still suggests women in geoscience are at a potential disadvantage from the very beginning of their career starting with those less than outstanding letters of recommendation.“We’re not trying to assign blames or critic ize anyone or call anyone consciously sexist. Rather, the point is to use the result of this study to open up meaningful dialogues on implicit gender bias, be it a departmental level or an institutional level or even a discipline level, which may led to some recommendation for the letter writers themselves.”51. What do we learn about applicants to postdoctoral positions in geosciences?A) There are many more men applying than women.B) Chances for women to get the positions are scarce.C) More males than females are likely to get outstanding letters of recommendation.D) Males applicants have more interest in these positions than their female counterparts.52. What do studies about men and women in scientific research show?A) Women engaged in postdoctoral work are quickly catching up.B) Fewer women are applying for postdoctoral positions due to gender bias.C) Men are believed to be better able to excel in STEM disciplines.D) Women who are keenly interested in STEM fields are often exceptional.53. What do the studies find out about the recommendation letters for women applicants?A) They are hardly ever supported by concrete examples.B) They contain nothing that distinguishes the applicants.C) They provide objective information without exaggeration.D) They are often filled with praise for exceptional applications.54. What did Dutt and her colleagues do with the more than 1,200 letters of recommendation?A) They asked unbiased scholars to evaluate them.B) They invited women professionals to edit them.C) They assigned them randomly to reviewers.D) They deleted all information about gender.55. What does Dutt aim to do with her study?A) Raise recommendation writers’ awareness of .gender bias in their letters.B) Open up fresh avenues for women post-doctors to join in research work.C) Alert women researchers to all types of gender bias in the STEM disciplines.D) Start a public discussion on how to raise women’s status in academic circles.Part IV Translation (30 minutes) Directions: For this part, you are allowed 30 minutes to translate a passage from Chinese into English. You should write your answer on Answer Sheet 2.黄山位于安徽省南部。